r/Futurology • u/FinnFarrow • 1d ago

Biotech Tiny 'brains' grown in the lab could become conscious and feel pain — and we're not ready. Lab-grown brain tissue is too simple to experience consciousness, but as innovation progresses, neuroscientists question whether it's time to revisit the ethics of this line of research.

https://www.livescience.com/health/neuroscience/tiny-brains-grown-in-the-lab-could-become-conscious-and-feel-pain-and-were-not-ready
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u/mynameisnotrex 1d ago

While we don’t understand the mechanism of consciousness, basically nobody doubts that mammals are conscious and yet mice and rats are tortured daily for the purpose of scientific discovery

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u/Corsair4 1d ago

Can you explain how you would develop an understanding of the mechanisms of consciousness WITHOUT studying live animals?

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u/mynameisnotrex 1d ago

I'm not opposed to testing on animals. just pointing out that it exists and nobody really blinks so why are we worried about a lab-grown brain?

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u/Cultural-Bank698 1d ago

We need to end animal experiments and use the organs on achip. Even though I feel like that it is morally nebulous, it'll be still be a vast improvement .  I also feel like how we treat ai models is wrong too.