ethics of scientists injecting human glial cells into the brains of mice

[echpt]

just read the article "Mice with half-human brains four times smarter than their peers". I have given permission to have my body donated for scientific study, but am starting to doubt that decision if it means the possibility some of my brain cells would be injected into a rodent! I wasn't aware scientists could do studies of such a nature. It scares me, thinking that parts of the essence of me could be walking around a maze, trying to find my way to a piece of cheese! Yikes!! It's so into the unknown. Anyone else out there with thoughts on this?

 

[theos]

Hi echpt :)

Since you're new to the forum, we welcome you to pop over to the newbies section and introduce yourself. You don't have to get very personal, but let us know how you found the forum and what your interests are. Take a look at some of the other newbie introductions and see how it's done.

 

[MusicMan]

echpt, For one thing, once you have left your body, you have no further use for it. It has done it's job.
For another, perhaps with advanced brain power, the subject mice will gain advanced knowledge of their situation, and so perhaps become STO candidates. Hopefully not the STS kind. At least the ability might be presented to them.
As for the scientists, they will be learning something, and "Knowledge Protects".

So it seems to be a win-win all round.
The only downer I can think of might be the possibility of cross species migration of viral particles, which might mutate and kill us all!

 

[Risen]

just read the article "Mice with half-human brains four times smarter than their peers".

I would like to read the article. Do you have a link for it?

 

[Tigersoap]

I would like to read the article. Do you have a link for it?

I think it's this one :

http://www.sott.net/article/289675-Mice-with-half-human-brains-four-times-smarter-than-their-peers

 

[Risen]

Thank you Tigersoap.
This is really creepy. The experimenters said they do not plan to do this with chimps. Yea, right, not today anyway. I'm sure other researchers will jump at the chance to try to make human/chimp killing machines.

 

[Keyhole]

It scares me, thinking that parts of the essence of me could be walking around a maze, trying to find my way to a piece of cheese! Yikes!! It's so into the unknown. Anyone else out there with thoughts on this?

Hey echpt, I guess it depends on whether you identify your 'essence' as part of your physical body, if you do then it would make sense why your feeling like scared.

Animal experimentation used to creep me out until I read Archaeology of Mind by Panksepp. I think maybe its just where we as humans are at on the learning cycle. 4DSTS do it to us... And if we can gain knowledge to become STO by learning through animal subjects then there's no reason scientists shouldn't IMO. As long as they are relatively humane and respectful of the animals used. We have/can leant a lot from animals

 

[Argo]

echpt, For one thing, once you have left your body, you have no further use for it. It has done it's job.
For another, perhaps with advanced brain power, the subject mice will gain advanced knowledge of their situation, and so perhaps become STO candidates. Hopefully not the STS kind. At least the ability might be presented to them.
As for the scientists, they will be learning something, and "Knowledge Protects".

Can you be more precise, in what sense do you think that the subject mice could become STO candidates? :)