Organoids: The Future of Biomedical Research and the Moral Dilemmas Behind It

Could lab-grown neurons learn to play a video game? It may sound like science fiction, but groundbreaking research has already demonstrated that tiny networks of neurons can, in fact, learn and even show sentience when embedded in a simulated game world (Hartung et al., 2024). This sensational finding pushes us into a new era of biomedical research, enforced by small, three-dimensional tissues called organoids. Derived from human stem cells, these miniature structures replicate the complexity and function of human organs such as the brain, kidneys, and liver (Barbuzano, 2017). Beyond simple mimicry of organs, organoids enable scientists to test drugs, model diseases, and perform highly sophisticated applications, such as CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. As such, their ability to closely replicate human organs, thereby enabling numerous doors to research previously impossible with actual organs, is what makes them one of the most significant breakthroughs in modern biology. This may sound surreal at first, and you might question: how are mere clusters of tissues capable of exhibiting such intricate functions of our human body? 

To clarify, organoids are not just cells clumped together; rather, they are sophisticated models that self-organise to mirror the architecture and cellular diversity of their real-life counterparts (Barbuzano, 2017). What makes them even more intriguing is their astonishing brief process of creation. Scientists begin with stem cells: either pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), which can become any cell type, or adult stem cells (ASCs) from a specific targeted tissue. These cells are cultivated under a carefully controlled environment, often within an accommodation matrix like Matrigel, supplied with a specific cocktail of growth factors and signalling molecules. Under these precise conditions, the stem cells follow their intrinsic genetic instructions within to multiply, further differentiate, and organise themselves into small structures resembling miniature organs, with many of their specialised cell types and functions (Tang et al., 2022). Yet, it is precisely this astonishing ability of stem cells to self-assemble into complex systems that not only guides our biomedical development but also forces us to confront profound moral dilemmas behind it.

Importantly, the most profound dilemma surrounds brain organoids and the potential for consciousness. As these models become more complex, exhibiting neural networks, electrical activity, and even learning capabilities, they raise uncomfortable questions about sentience and their moral status (Hartung et al., 2024). Some experts argue that proper consciousness is impossible without environmental interaction, while others urge caution, suggesting that if an entity can feel pain or have interests like how organoids can, it deserves moral consideration. This moral ambiguity further extends to human-animal chimeras, where human organoids are transplanted into animals to study their development in a more life-like system (de Jongh et al., 2022). Does integrating human brain tissue into a mouse humanise it, granting the animal a higher moral status? 

Organoids remain powerful models—for now. Science is advancing at a faster pace than our ethical frameworks can keep up with. The potential of these organoids in real-life applications is immense, ranging from personalised cancer therapy to one day growing organs that are even capable of transplants (Hartung et al., 2024). However, while some researchers often see them as morally unproblematic "little blobs," far from actual working human brains, others regard them as carrying moral weight, raising ethical questions about how far such research should be continued. These contrasting opinions tensely underscore the demand for parallel ethical deliberation within society. Thus, I believe the modern biomedical scientists must lead the way to establishing clear guidelines that find a balance between innovation and responsibility, so that as we unlock new doors in medicine, we do so with the foresight and prudence these profound technologies deserve.

References

Hartung, T., Morales, E., & Smirnova, L. (2024). Brain organoids and organoid intelligence from ethical, legal, and social points of view. Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.2023.1307613 

Barbuzano, J. (2017, November 7). Organoids: A new window into disease, development and discovery. Harvard.edu. https://www.hsci.harvard.edu/organoids 

Tang, X.-Y., Wu, S., Wang, D., Chu, C., Hong, Y., Tao, M., Hu, H., Xu, M., Guo, X., & Liu, Y. (2022). Human organoids in basic research and clinical applications. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 7(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-022-01024-9 

de Jongh, D., Massey, E. K., Berishvili, E., Fonseca, L. M., Lebreton, F., Bellofatto, K., Bignard, J., Seissler, J., Buerck, L. W., Honarpisheh, M., Zhang, Y., Lei, Y., Pehl, M., Follenzi, A., Olgasi, C., Cucci, A., Borsotti, C., Assanelli, S., Piemonti, L., & Citro, A. (2022). Organoids: a systematic review of ethical issues. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-022-02950-9