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Ethics Statement

 

We are committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in the creation and distribution of our educational 3D models. The references for the models offered in our webshop are based on real human embryos. These embryos are primarily sourced from two reputable collections: the Carnegie Collection and the Dutch Fetal Biobank.

 

Carnegie Collection

The majority of the embryos in our models come from the historical Carnegie Collection, housed at the Museum of Health and Medicine in Washington, D.C., USA. This collection comprises embryos collected from ectopic pregnancies, hysterectomies, and miscarriages. More information on the creation of the 3D embryo models from histological sections can be found in the study by de Bakker et al., published in Science in 2016.

Dutch Fetal Biobank

The second source of embryos and fetuses used for our educational 3D prints is the Dutch Fetal Biobank. Established in 2017, this initiative invites parents who have experienced pregnancy loss to donate the embryo or fetus to science. This can occur in cases of ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy termination, or preterm birth. The Dutch Fetal Biobank operates with full approval from the Medical Ethics Committee (METC2016_285) of Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and all donations are treated with the utmost care and respect. More information about the establishment and protocols of the Dutch Fetal Biobank can be found here.

We prioritize the dignity and respect of the donors and their families, ensuring that all materials are handled with the highest ethical consideration. Our mission is to advance scientific knowledge and education while honoring the contributions of those who have donated to science.