Seeds for a social debate |
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Research into reproductive cells from the lab touches on nothing less than life itself. Because in theory, you can create embryos from artificially developed reproductive cells, from which children are born.
Scientists in the HipGametes consortium are investigating whether it is possible to create egg cells and sperm cells from other body cells, such as skin cells. With this in vitro reproductive cell development (IVG), they want to gain knowledge about genetic disorders and infertility, among other things. This offers opportunities for the development of new medical treatments. It could also lead to a radically new way of developing human life in the future.
But do we actually want this as a society? Should certain limits and rules be set for this research, and if so: which ones? This report offers tools for a broad, public dialogue about research into reproductive cells from the lab.
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