Originalorganen

Originalorganen is a term used in bioethics and speculative biology to refer to the set of natural, original organs of an organism, as distinct from organs produced or replaced by medical or biotechnological means. The term is not part of formal biomedical taxonomy and does not designate a single universally accepted concept. It appears mainly in Dutch-language discussions and in comparative literature on organ replacement, prosthetics, and regenerative medicine, as well as in science fiction where biological continuity is a thematic issue.

Etymology: The word combines original with organen, the Dutch plural for organs, and reflects debates about provenance and identity of bodily tissues after interventions such as transplantation, tissue engineering, or 3D bioprinting.

Definition and scope: Because there is no standardized definition, Originalorganen is used variably. In some contexts it denotes the organs as originally present in an organism before any surgical replacement. In others, it refers to the native tissue of a transplanted organ as the provenance for ethical or legal considerations. The term thus serves more as a conceptual marker than a precise biological category.

Relevance: In ethics and law, the concept touches on questions of informed consent, organ provenance, and identity, especially when multiple replacements occur. In fiction and philosophy, Originalorganen provides a lens to discuss what counts as the "self" of the body when parts are manufactured or altered.

See also: Organ transplantation, Regenerative medicine, Bioethics, Identity (philosophy).