Approaching ethical issues in the developmental biology classroom

Over the past decades, Developmental Biology has been moving steadily from a rather academic subject to an increasingly practical discipline. It has played a role in the development of contraceptive and conceptive (e.g. in vitro fertilization) technologies. The advent of embryonic (ES) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and advances in organoids, embryoids, and human-non-human chimeras offer promises and ethical challenges. Courses in developmental biology provide both opportunities and challenges for discussing the societal and ethical implications of new technologies. Here we present outcomes of a Society for Developmental Biology workshop on “teaching ethical issues in developmental biology.” We point out important considerations and possible approaches, as well as the need to set boundaries on discussions of the critical issues posed by the new science of embryonic engineering.