•  11
    The Ethics of Stem Cell-Based Embryo-Like Structures
    with W. J. Dondorp, A. L. Bredenoord, and G. M. W. R. de Wert
    Journal of Bioethical Inquiry 1-30. forthcoming.
    In order to study early human development while avoiding the burdens associated with human embryo research, scientists are redirecting their efforts towards so-called human embryo-like structures (hELS). hELS are created from clusters of human pluripotent stem cells and seem capable of mimicking early human development with increasing accuracy. Notwithstanding, hELS research finds itself at the intersection of historically controversial fields, and the expectation that it might be received as si…Read more
  •  22
    Potentiality switches and epistemic uncertainty: the Argument from Potential in times of human embryo-like structures
    with Wybo J. Dondorp, Annelien L. Bredenoord, and Guido M. W. R. De Wert
    Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy 27 (1): 37-48. 2024.
    Recent advancements in developmental biology enable the creation of embryo-like structures from human stem cells, which we refer to as human embryo-like structures (hELS). These structures provide promising tools to complement—and perhaps ultimately replace—the use of human embryos in clinical and fundamental research. But what if these hELS—when further improved—also have a claim to moral status? What would that imply for their research use? In this paper, we explore these questions in relation…Read more