Synthetic Brains

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/mar/18/scientists-grow-mini-brain-on-the-move-that-can-contract-muscle
https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/brain-science?rebelltitem=4#rebelltitem4

In recent years, genetic scientists have begun growing brains. Not creating computers or processors that can think for their own, not taking cells from an existing brain and having them operate independently, not even transplanting a functioning brain into a new organism for potential growth. Scientists are actually growing brains from scratch. Now, this wouldn't be nearly as unsettling if the brains were just that, a brain, with no connection to the outside world. However, whether it be a good or a bad thing, Cambridge scientists have created a brain, which they have called their "mini-brain on the move", which both can and does react to its surroundings. When placed near a removed mouse spinal cord in its environment, the mini brain was shown to grow tendrils reaching towards the spinal cord without any previous "encouragement," showing that it is some sort of instinct, or natural response of the brain to expand. Not only that, once the brain had connected to the spinal cord, it was able to send signals to the muscle tissue attached to the spinal cord, and cause it to flex, in the same way our brains move our muscles on our body.

To me, this is chilling. The fact that scientists are able to synthesize what appears to be a new life in a Petri dish out of nothing but a few stem cells that has the capacity to both react and adapt to its environment seems like something out of a science fiction movie. If we are able to create brains that can interlink with their surrounding nervous systems, what implications could this have towards humans if we manage to grow a human brain? Could scientists grow a brain with the capacity of a humans', place it into a cadaver, and expect a similar response? While this may be a bit of a stretch, something similar already seems plausible from the efficacy of the brain next to the mouse spinal cord.

But it doesn't stop there. Scientists at the D'Or Institute for Research and Education grew a brain which, after a few weeks, started developing retinal cells. These were identified to be the foundations of the brain growing eyes. So, now we know that not only are these synthetic brains able to develop on their own, they are able to develop intelligently, and optimize their understanding of the world around them. Only our imaginations can limit what the potential of these brains may reach. If they can develop retinal cells and start to be able to see, how far away are they from starting to grow their own muscles to move around? How far are they from being able to have their own thoughts, as opposed to simply reacting to their environment? How far are these brains away from being conscious?

Unfortunately, that is a question that scientists are confident about the answer to, but also have no solid guarantee. The researchers who are creating these "brains in a jar" are extremely sure that they are nowhere close to developing consciousness. However, one can't help but be skeptical as to the certainty of this assumption. There is absolutely no way for scientists to gauge the points where consciousness is achieved, whether or not it is an instantaneous "spark" of profound self-awareness, or whether or not the brain is conscious the whole time, and simply cannot yet act upon its own intentions. There is no benchmark for where simple scientific toying ends, and the creating of a new form of consciousness begins. And the brains that are being grown are not even at their highest possible complexity! Scientists are still creating environments and structures in order to allow these synthetic brains to grow more and more complex and sophisticated. With this approach to the dangerous study of brain synthesis, it seems that we are approaching the day of harvesting consciousness at a breakneck speed. In my opinion, a line needs to be drawn in the sand before we come to this day.

This also bears the question, what kind of medical implications or applications would experiments like these bring about? Is this research being used to contribute to the field of medicine, or is it just a matter of scientists trying to play God? From what I can tell, there doesn't seem to be any immediate benefit to the creation of these synthetic brain and spine amalgams other than to sate our thirst of curiosity. If there is any medical benefit from doing such research, then I can fully support the pursuit. If these are simply being carried out for our pleasure and interest, however, I think it would be wise to stop now before we create something that we don't know how to control.