Ethics should lead, not play catch-up, Hiroshima University expert emphasizes as Japan panel OKs making human embryos from stem cells

A leading bioethicist at Hiroshima University is calling for an anticipatory, rather than reactive, approach to ethics after a Japanese government panel in August backed a report that brings the country a step closer to becoming the first in the world to allow research on human embryos created from stem cell–derived sperm and eggs.

In a correspondence article titled "Ethics must keep pace with embryo research" published in the journal Nature (Vol. 646), Hiroshima University Professor (Special Recognition) Tsutomu Sawai cautions that science is advancing faster than society’s ability to debate its implications. He urges ethicists to “engage in forward-looking debate to prevent researchers from rushing into controversial experiments.”

He points to the 2018 gene-edited babies scandal as a cautionary example of what can happen when technology outpaces ethical review. In that case, a Chinese scientist announced the birth of the world’s first gene-edited babies, the result of experiments using the CRISPR-Cas9 tool to make embryos resistant to HIV. The researcher drew global outrage for the risky experiments on human embryos that flouted established ethical norms and oversight expectations.

“An anticipatory approach is needed: to assess social effects early, define boundaries in plain language and design governance that can evolve as evidence develops. It should include safeguards against misuse, and clear red lines for any credible signs of sentience,” Sawai said.

“The goal is not to restrain science but to guide it with foresight.”

According to the Japan panel’s report, culturing embryos in the laboratory will be limited to 14 days, and implantation into a human or animal uterus will be prohibited. So far, it is not yet feasible to create lab-grown sperm and eggs from human pluripotent stem cells, such as iPS cells. However, it is expected to become possible in about five years, an advancement that could accelerate research on treatments for infertility and genetic disorders. 

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About Hiroshima University

Since its foundation in 1949, Hiroshima University has striven to become one of the most prominent and comprehensive universities in Japan for the promotion and development of scholarship and education. Consisting of 12 schools for undergraduate level and 5 graduate schools, ranging from natural sciences to humanities and social sciences, the university has grown into one of the most distinguished comprehensive research universities in Japan. English website: https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en