











Source: New Scientist

Comments     Threshold


RE: bioethics
By Khenglish on 8/29/2013 4:01:23 PM , Rating: 2
I'm curious about what "life begins at conception" people think of this. I'm with you that it would be wrong when consciousness and awareness begin, but if this group is consistent with their thinking then they should have issues with any experimentation with this at all.

My understanding is that this brain development is equivalent to a 5-6 week old fetus.

RE: bioethics
By MrBlastman on 8/29/2013 4:20:39 PM , Rating: 2
Until we understand exactly how things like memory is created and stored the ethics conversation can be shelved. For now, experiment away.

Being able to solve in-utero neurological problems will prevent many tragic births and years of parental struggle before the child is ever born. I argue that the benefits derived from this far outweigh any ethical worries for now. They'd also save many pregnant women from months of needless worrying, also.

RE: bioethics
By NellyFromMA on 8/29/2013 4:58:17 PM , Rating: 2
Seriously? Shelf the ethics conversation in the name of experimentation?

The entire reason for conversations surrounding ethics in science is to prevent unethical experimentation. The lack of scientific understanding about when "memory is created and stored" isn't an excuse to cross the line.

I won't even bother to share my opinion on this because it will just detract from my point above.

RE: bioethics
By Reclaimer77 on 8/29/2013 4:33:48 PM , Rating: 2
How could this possibly develop a consciousness? There's just no way. It's a collection of brain-like cells we just grew. It doesn't even seem possible for a true human consciousness to form from this.

RE: bioethics
By retrospooty on 8/29/2013 5:23:22 PM , Rating: 2
I wouldn't mind growing a 2nd brain... Send it to work all day while my Brain sleeps, then I wake refreshed and ready to go at the end of the day.

What could possibly go wrong?

RE: bioethics
By nafhan on 8/29/2013 5:36:38 PM , Rating: 2
Well... what causes consciousness to develop? What is consciousness? Until we can answer those questions, you really can't say things like:
Honestly, you're just a collection of brain-like cells with some meat around it.

RE: bioethics
By Reclaimer77 on 8/29/13, Rating: -1
RE: bioethics

RE: bioethics
By SlyNine on 9/2/2013 5:17:42 AM , Rating: 1
the brain is part of the CNV. It would be more accurate to say that the CNV is incomplete.

But who said it takes a whole CNV to feel pain, or be self aware, which I don't think is a requirement of this being wrong (dogs are not considered self aware yet torturing them is considered wrong).

His "sophomoric scrawlings" as your ad hominem attack suggested, makes a valid point; one that you decided to evade by attacking the arguer instead of the argument.

We do not know what causes us to be conscious. when you can explain how networks of neurons that either fire or don't fire can form our thoughts, feelings, and emotions; indeed all of our perceptions. Then I'll accept that you know enough to make the claims you are making. until then feel free to debate on pure conjecture.

With all that said, I'm all for this research.

RE: bioethics
By Jeffk464 on 8/29/2013 8:16:06 PM , Rating: 2

I cant see it developing without any kind of input. No eyes, no ears, no sense of touch, no sense of smell, no experience or understanding of anything.

RE: bioethics
By Adonlude on 8/29/2013 5:47:57 PM , Rating: 2
That is the question isn't it? Can a brain grown with no sensory input gain consciousness? Tabula rasa or pre-ordained thought, that is a big question.

