Question: Do you think it will be possible to create a human brain without retrieving anything from a human in the future?

Simon Langley-Evans answered on 19 Nov 2013:

Ooh- thats a tough one. In theory we can grow any tissue from stem cells. Stem cells are cells that are normally involved in repair of organs as they age, but some are called pluripotent which means they can be persuaded to grow into anything. We could probably grow simple organs like skin or maybe even an artificial liver easily, but others have such complex and specialised structures that it will be more challenging. The brain may be something that goes just too far as the brain relies on forming hundreds of specialised areas, complex linkages between nerve pathways and inputs from hormones. I think it will be too hard, but then if you had asked me if we could grow skin from stem cells 20 years ago, I would have said no way.

Biology is brilliant and we learn new things every day. Anything is possible!