Rivron, Nicolas C.Martínez Arias, AlfonsoPera, Martin F.Moris, NaomiM'hamdi, Hafez Ismaili2023-10-022023-10-022023Rivron NC, Martinez Arias A, Pera MF, Moris N, M'hamdi HI. An ethical framework for human embryology with embryo models. Cell. 2023 Aug 17;186(17):3548-57. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.07.0280092-8674http://hdl.handle.net/10230/58014A human embryo's legal definition and its entitlement to protection vary greatly worldwide. Recently, human pluripotent stem cells have been used to form in vitro models of early embryos that have challenged legal definitions and raised questions regarding their usage. In this light, we propose a refined legal definition of an embryo, suggest "tipping points" for when human embryo models could eventually be afforded similar protection to that of embryos, and then revisit basic ethical principles that might help to draft a roadmap for the gradual, justified usage of embryo models in a manner that aims to maximize benefits to society.application/pdfeng© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.07.028BlastoidsDefinitionEmbryoEmbryo modelsEmbryologyEthicsGastruloidsHumanLegalinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess