In just over a decade, organoid models, small, lab-grown cell clusters that mimic human organs, have revolutionized the study of human development, disease, and drug discovery. The one major benefit is that such models have helped reduce the need for animal testing. Brain organoids are one of them. Formed out of stem cells, these brain-like three-dimensional structures have developed out of simple assemblies of cells into more sophisticated systems, which recapitulate significant aspects of early brain development and brain activity. These organoids have been developed by scientists, and recent breakthroughs have made them increasingly complex.
Some organoids now exhibit electrical activity resembling that of an early-stage human fetus, while others form neural networks capable of sending signals back and forth, similar to communication in real brains. The potential of these improvements is immense: it can improve our knowledge about diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease or schizophrenia, accelerate the process of drug testing, and contribute to the development of individualized treatment depending on the biology of a person. However, the more complicated they become, the more the questions of ethics arise.
Bioethicists observe that brain organoids, while alive and derived from human cells, fall outside current human and animal research guidelines because they are neither fully formed brains nor conscious. Developing brain organoids under specific laboratory conditions can self-assemble into layers and resemble, in a simplistic manner, the developing human brain. The models of the brain cortex were basic up to now, and current methods enable researchers to integrate multiple forms of organoids modelling various brain areas. Others are even made to be combined with blood vessel-like forms, thus they become more stable and able to endure longer.
Scientists have also discovered how to accelerate their development, enabling them to create working neural networks in shorter time frames and even be able to communicate with robot-like machines. Since the development of the human brain cannot usually be monitored within the womb, organoids provide a good opportunity to investigate the first phases of life. They are also able to reproduce characteristics of diseases like autism or Alzheimer’s, and they can assist the researchers in investigating the cause of such diseases and testing potential remedies. Besides, organoids offer safer drug-testing platforms as they assist the international community in decreasing the use of animals in scientific studies.
Organoids are not yet anywhere close to human brains that do not perceive their surroundings, do not have bodily connections, and whose neural complexity is incomplete. But their increased network activity, which seems like that of premature infants, brings up the issue of individual sensation or experience, which is questionable morally. Scientists should be careful since the concept of consciousness is ill-defined and difficult to measure. Existing organoids exhibit only immature functions, although it has been recommended that there should be limitations on their complexity.
Current research models are concerned either with human beings or animals, so the organoids that are made of human cells but not sentient are mostly unregulated, though in China, there are regulations on consciousness and mixing cells of humans and animals. The professionals recommend uniform international standards, continual approval, and review of ethics to avoid ambiguity. The brain organoids currently stand on the boundary between the development of neuroscience and the ethical dilemma, as the world needs to develop comprehensive standards in relation to the science.
References: The Conversation. Mini brains, big questions: science is racing ahead of ethics. Published December 10, 2025. Accessed December 11, 2025. Mini brains, big questions: science is racing ahead of ethics.
