• 中国科学学与科技政策研究会
  • 中国科学院科技政策与管理科学研究所
  • 清华大学科学技术与社会研究中心
ISSN 1003-2053 CN 11-1805/G3

科学学研究 ›› 2024, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (1): 46-53.

• 科学学理论与方法 • 上一篇    下一篇

人 - 动物嵌合体研究的技术 - 伦理张力

丁璐璐1,赵思琪2,彭耀进2   

  1. 1. 中国科学院动物研究所
    2.
  • 收稿日期:2022-11-23 修回日期:2023-08-16 出版日期:2024-01-15 发布日期:2024-01-15
  • 通讯作者: 丁璐璐
  • 基金资助:
    2021年度高端科技创新智库青年项目:动物基因组编辑的安全、伦理风险及治理

Tension between Technology and Ethics of Human-animal Chimera Research

  • Received:2022-11-23 Revised:2023-08-16 Online:2024-01-15 Published:2024-01-15

摘要: 人-动物嵌合体研究伦理争议日渐进入公众视野。为确保这一颠覆性技术的健康有序发展,相关伦理问题亟需厘清、解析、评估和预判。以往大多数关于人-动物嵌合体的伦理治理分析都是基于与技术发展实际情况脱节的伦理考量,导致“空中楼阁”式的研究现状。对于前沿技术的伦理探讨,应依托于处于该领域领先地位的科研团队,基于现阶段的真实技术发展进行哲学思考。本文结合人-动物嵌合体研究领域技术瓶颈和风险,以胡塞尔本体论、康德哲学、错误知觉理论、海德格尔存在论为理论依据,对相关伦理问题进行了系统的深度剖析。同时,我们根据技术突破与伦理问题之间的动态关系,对该领域的伦理风险进行预测,以期为将来的研究提供有益参考。

Abstract: The development of human-animal chimeras has consistently been accompanied by ethical controversies. For this groundbreaking technique to advance scientifically and systematically, it is imperative to urgently anticipate, analyze, evaluate, and clarify the associated ethical issues. As the technological barriers of this field are gradually overcome in the future, more pronounced ethical controversies and risks will emerge. This is particularly true when chimeras involve non-human primates, as these controversies become even more profound. The current state of human-animal chimera development necessitates a thorough contemplation of the ethical challenges within this domain. However, previous examinations of the ethical issues and governance of human-animal chimeras have primarily occurred in ethical dialogues that are disconnected from the practical context of technological advancement, resulting in what can be termed as “ivory tower” research. A comprehensive integration of technological considerations into discussions regarding the ethical dimensions of human-animal chimeras research becomes both pressing and indispensable. Explorations into the frontiers of transformative technology should be grounded in research teams that possess a leading position within specific fields, supported by philosophical contemplation that is deeply informed by the current intricacies of technological development. This paper, rooted in the technological barriers and risks within the realm of human-animal chimera research, draws upon the theoretical foundations of Husserl’s formal ontology, Kant’s philosophy, theory of misperception and Heideggerian existentialism. It aims to analyze the associated ethical issues systematically and comprehensively, anticipating the ethical risks of this field based on the dynamic interplay between technological advancements and ethical considerations. Through comprehensive analysis, the ethical complexities inherent in the current stage of human-animal chimera research encompass several critical facets. These include a lack of well-defined concepts and standardized frameworks, ethical hazards intertwined with human consciousness concerns, the potential encroachment upon human dignity (currently latent but foreseeable), disputes concerning the moral status of human-animal chimeras, regulatory intricacies, ethical concerns regarding reproduction (requiring further theoretical exploration), issues regarding the rights of research participants, challenges associated with public opinion and instinctual aversion, safeguarding the welfare of experimental animals, and biosafety concerns. Moreover, by closely examining the dynamic interplay between technological advancements and ethical considerations, it becomes evident that precise oversight, monitoring, and tracking of the differentiation trajectory of human stem cells assume paramount significance in mitigating the most pressing ethical risks. A mere escalation in the proportion of human cells within chimeras is liable to exacerbate a multitude of ethical challenges; meaningful progress necessitates the collective resolution of other concurrent technological bottlenecks. The mastery of technical obstacles pertaining to transplantation also holds the potential to alleviate specific ethical quandaries. In short, incorporating the ongoing advancements in tangible technological progress into the ethical investigation of human-animal chimeras, coupled with rigorous philosophical scrutiny, serves to illuminate, analyse, and pinpoint the authentic ethical hazards within this domain. This endeavour not only aids in elucidating intricacies and solidifying a robust ethical underpinning at the vanguard of transformative life sciences but also propels the trajectory of human-animal chimeras technology toward a constructive and methodical trajectory. As technology continues to evolve, the prospect of new ethical challenges arising in the future remains plausible. Consequently, the ethical framework surrounding human-animal chimeras research necessitates further enhancement and refinement to ensure its alignment with evolving circumstances.