More than 90 per cent of Japanese citizens expressed serious hesitation or outright refusal to donate cells for human brain organoid research under current consent systems, citing concerns that the lab-grown structures could develop the capacity to think and have consciousness in the future.
The study, published in Frontiers in Genetics, found that only 15 per cent of respondents were willing to give broad consent for their cells to be used in brain organoid research after learning about the technology. Some 36 per cent outright refused to donate their cells under broad consent, whilst another 37 per cent said their willingness would depend on specific conditions, such as the purpose and ethical use of the cells.
The study, published in Frontiers in Genetics, found that only 15 per cent of respondents were willing to give broad consent for their cells to be used in brain organoid research after learning about the technology. Some 36 per cent outright refused to donate their cells under broad consent, whilst another 37 per cent said their willingness would depend on specific conditions, such as the purpose and ethical use of the cells.