We are not. These are embryo-like structures. Not actual human embryos.
exe34•4h ago
they have no mouth even if they want to scream.
jdonaldson•4h ago
I'm an organ donor, and I have no problem giving my organs away after I'm quite positive I won't feel it. I think as long as there is no sensation, there is no pain, and certainly no formal concept of "self". But still, with matters of exploitation of our bodies, we should tread very very lightly.
exe34•3h ago
that's an odd thing to bring up out of nowhere.
philipkglass•4h ago
No. These don't develop like embryos and do not have to come from embryonic stem cells.
The structures differ from real human embryos in many ways, and cannot develop into them because they lack several embryonic tissues, as well as the supporting yolk sac and placenta needed for further development.
The human stem cells used to derive hematoids can be created from any cell in the body. This means the approach also holds great potential for personalised medicine in the future, by allowing the production of blood that is fully compatible with a patient’s own body.
frodo8sam•4h ago
Perfect blood doping.
Kind of sad that that's the first thing that comes to mind...
nick49488171•3h ago
Could you do this using current medicine by extracting and donating blood back to yourself after a week?
salamanderman•3h ago
I'm pretty certain I read of people doing this in cycling tournaments.
I find it ironic that thats the first thing that comes to mind. I know people with rare blood groups, I think this could be huge for them.
umeshunni•4h ago
We've been growing humans since the beginning of time. This one is just in vitro.
measurablefunc•3h ago
That's the technocratic endgame b/c a few people are rich enough to realize the potential for life extension using the same type of technology.
tifik•3h ago
I know these are scientists and a 'Human embryo model' is a perfectly valid name, because it's a model of a human embryo, but it's a disaster from a marketing perspective. People will see 'human embryo' and it doesn't matter that it's just a model of one. You are now growing fetus-slaves.
Please call it something else.
Edit: they are calling it 'hematoids' and make it clear that it is quite different from an embryo. I'm not sure why it's compared to them in the first place then.
falcor84•1h ago
Just on a philosophical level, is there anything that would make such embryos more "slaves" than embryos or fetuses in a womb? It's not as if in a womb they have any ability to assert conscious control over their environment, even if they had the cognitive and sensorial capacity.
burnte•1h ago
Bryan Johnson will be getting these transfused into himself ASAP.
typpilol•4h ago
castis•4h ago
exe34•4h ago
jdonaldson•4h ago
exe34•3h ago
philipkglass•4h ago
The structures differ from real human embryos in many ways, and cannot develop into them because they lack several embryonic tissues, as well as the supporting yolk sac and placenta needed for further development.
The human stem cells used to derive hematoids can be created from any cell in the body. This means the approach also holds great potential for personalised medicine in the future, by allowing the production of blood that is fully compatible with a patient’s own body.
frodo8sam•4h ago
Kind of sad that that's the first thing that comes to mind...
nick49488171•3h ago
salamanderman•3h ago
bobbylarrybobby•3h ago
lawlessone•3h ago
An alternate Olympics where everyone is sponsored by medical companies :D
makr17•3h ago
accurrent•1h ago
umeshunni•4h ago
measurablefunc•3h ago