“Human fertilized egg” artificial culture for more than 14 days Conditionally tolerated International Stem Cell Society

When conducting research on artificially culturing fertilized human eggs, from the viewpoint of bioethics, each country has established a rule that "limited to the 14th day after fertilization", and each country regulates it by law.

The International Stem Cell Society has conditionally allowed cultures for more than 14 days, saying that it is important to deepen the understanding of the mechanism by which infertility occurs, and there is a possibility that regulations will be reviewed in each country in the future.

In fertilized human eggs, the structure that is the source of nerves appears around the 14th day after fertilization, so each country regulates that it can be cultivated by the 14th day, but in recent years, culture technology has been adopted. Progress has been made and there is a growing demand among researchers for a review.

On the 27th, the International Stem Cell Society, which is made up of researchers from all over the world, revised the ethical guidelines for stem cell research and removed it from the "prohibited" classification for culturing until the 14th day. Changed to the classification of "Matters permitted when obtained".

The guideline states that "it is important to deepen the understanding of the formation of body tissues and the mechanism by which infertility occurs", and that it is necessary to be recognized in each country in order to actually carry out culture. , The scientific significance and ethical issues of research should be discussed with the public. "

In Japan, culture for more than 14 days is prohibited by national guidelines, but the person in charge of the Cabinet Office, which has jurisdiction over bioethics issues, said, "I would like to discuss the regulation with experts in the future." It was.

Professor Tetsuya Ishii of Hokkaido University, who specializes in bioethics, said, "It will lead to great progress in basic research, but the longer the culture period, the greater the dignity of human beings and the weight of life. It is expected to proceed, but careful discussion is required. "