Inside the stealthy startup that pitched brainless human clones, R3 Bio, has unveiled plans to create non-sentient monkey “organ sacks” as an alternative to animal testing. While controversial, this radical proposal raises ethical questions about the future of human cloning and body replacement.

The company’s founder, John Schloendorn, envisions a future where a baby version of yourself serves as a backup in case you need a new kidney or liver. He has even speculated that one day your brain might be placed into a younger clone to gain an extended lifespan through a still hypothetical procedure known as a body transplant.

Despite R3 Bio’s insistence on the disavowal of creating human clones, MIT Technology Review found documents outlining a technical road map for “body replacement cloning” in 2023. This includes improvements to the cloning process and genetic wiring diagrams for creating animals without complete brains. The company aims to develop these techniques in monkeys from a base in the Caribbean.

The feasibility of such research is met with grave concerns by experts like Jose Cibelli, who warns that there are boundaries even for human imagination and ways to make money. “There have to be boundaries,” he says, “and this is the boundary of making a human being who is not a human being.”

As R3 Bio continues to raise funds and operate in secrecy, the world watches with bated breath—what does it mean for humanity’s future? Is this the dawn of a new era or simply a descent into science fiction?