Seeds for Societal Debate - Urgent questions surrounding research into lab-grown gametes |
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Rathenau Instituut (2024). Zaadjes voor een maatschappelijk debat – Urgente kwesties rond onderzoek naar geslachtscellen uit het lab. Den Haag: Rathenau Instituut) |
Research into lab-grown gametes touches on nothing less than the essence of life itself. In theory, artificial gametes could be used to create embryos—and ultimately, children.
Scientists in the HipGametes consortium are exploring whether it is possible to create egg and sperm cells from other body cells, such as skin cells. This technique, known as in vitro gametogenesis (IVG), aims to deepen our understanding of genetic disorders and infertility. It may open the door to new medical treatments—and, in the longer term, to radically new ways of creating human life.
But is this something we want as a society? Should we set boundaries or rules for this kind of research—and if so, which ones? This report provides tools to support an open and inclusive societal dialogue on research into lab-grown gametes.
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