A framework for the ethical assessment of chimeric animal research involving human neural tissue
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A framework for the ethical assessment of chimeric animal research involving human neural tissue. / Porsdam Mann, Sebastian; Sun, Rosa; Hermerén, Göran.
I: BMC Medical Ethics, Bind 20, Nr. 1, 25.01.2019, s. 10.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - A framework for the ethical assessment of chimeric animal research involving human neural tissue
AU - Porsdam Mann, Sebastian
AU - Sun, Rosa
AU - Hermerén, Göran
PY - 2019/1/25
Y1 - 2019/1/25
N2 - BACKGROUND: Animal models of human diseases are often used in biomedical research in place of human subjects. However, results obtained by animal models may fail to hold true for humans. One way of addressing this problem is to make animal models more similar to humans by placing human tissue into animal models, rendering them chimeric. Since technical and ethical limitations make neurological disorders difficult to study in humans, chimeric models with human neural tissue could help advance our understanding of neuropathophysiology.MAIN BODY: In this article, we examine whether the introduction of human neural tissue and any consequent cognitive change is relevant to the way we ought to treat chimeras. We argue that changes in cognitive abilities are morally relevant to the extent that they increase the capacities that affect the moral status of any entity, including awareness, autonomy, and sociability. We posit that no being, regardless of species, should be treated in a way that is incommensurate with its moral status. Finally, we propose a framework that can be used to guide ethical assessment of research involving chimeras with advanced cognitive capacities.CONCLUSION: We advance this framework as a useful tool for bringing relevant considerations to the forefront for those considering the ethical merit of proposed chimeric research. In doing so, we examine concepts relevant to the question of how any entity may be treated, including moral status, dignity, and capacities.
AB - BACKGROUND: Animal models of human diseases are often used in biomedical research in place of human subjects. However, results obtained by animal models may fail to hold true for humans. One way of addressing this problem is to make animal models more similar to humans by placing human tissue into animal models, rendering them chimeric. Since technical and ethical limitations make neurological disorders difficult to study in humans, chimeric models with human neural tissue could help advance our understanding of neuropathophysiology.MAIN BODY: In this article, we examine whether the introduction of human neural tissue and any consequent cognitive change is relevant to the way we ought to treat chimeras. We argue that changes in cognitive abilities are morally relevant to the extent that they increase the capacities that affect the moral status of any entity, including awareness, autonomy, and sociability. We posit that no being, regardless of species, should be treated in a way that is incommensurate with its moral status. Finally, we propose a framework that can be used to guide ethical assessment of research involving chimeras with advanced cognitive capacities.CONCLUSION: We advance this framework as a useful tool for bringing relevant considerations to the forefront for those considering the ethical merit of proposed chimeric research. In doing so, we examine concepts relevant to the question of how any entity may be treated, including moral status, dignity, and capacities.
KW - Animal Experimentation/ethics
KW - Animal Welfare/ethics
KW - Animals
KW - Animals, Genetically Modified
KW - Biomedical Enhancement
KW - Biomedical Research/ethics
KW - Chimera
KW - Disease Models, Animal
KW - Ethical Analysis
KW - Ethics, Research
KW - Humans
KW - Morals
KW - Neurophysiology/education
KW - Personal Autonomy
KW - Personhood
KW - Respect
U2 - 10.1186/s12910-019-0345-2
DO - 10.1186/s12910-019-0345-2
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 30683100
VL - 20
SP - 10
JO - BMC Medical Ethics
JF - BMC Medical Ethics
SN - 1472-6939
IS - 1
ER -
ID: 383102821