Chimeras intended for human gamete production: an ethical alternative?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Chimeras intended for human gamete production: an ethical alternative?

AU - Palacios-González, César

PY - 2017/7/19

Y1 - 2017/7/19

N2 - Human eggs for basic, fertility and stem-cell research are in short supply. Many experiments that require their use cannot be carried out at present, and, therefore, the benefits that could emerge from these are either delayed or never materialise. This state of affairs is problematic for scientists and patients worldwide, and it is a matter that needs our attention. Recent advances in chimera research have opened the possibility of creating human/non-human animal chimeras intended for human gamete production (chimeras-IHGP). In this paper, I examine four arguments against the creation of such chimeras and prove that all of them are found wanting. I conclude by showing that there is a strong moral reason for scientists to pursue this research avenue.

AB - Human eggs for basic, fertility and stem-cell research are in short supply. Many experiments that require their use cannot be carried out at present, and, therefore, the benefits that could emerge from these are either delayed or never materialise. This state of affairs is problematic for scientists and patients worldwide, and it is a matter that needs our attention. Recent advances in chimera research have opened the possibility of creating human/non-human animal chimeras intended for human gamete production (chimeras-IHGP). In this paper, I examine four arguments against the creation of such chimeras and prove that all of them are found wanting. I conclude by showing that there is a strong moral reason for scientists to pursue this research avenue.

KW - Chimeras

KW - Eggs

KW - Oocytes

KW - Human/Non-human animal chimeras intended for human gamete production

KW - Human/Non-human chimeras

U2 - 10.1016/j.rbmo.2017.06.007

DO - 10.1016/j.rbmo.2017.06.007

M3 - Comment/debate

SN - 1472-6483

JO - REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE ONLINE

JF - REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE ONLINE

ER -