09-07-2023 , 05:35 PM
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/technolog...2a44&ei=21 Scientists Create Human Embryo Without Egg or Sperm Raising New Ethical Concerns
Story by Dave Malyon •
5h
Scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science and other research institutions have made a significant breakthrough in the study of early human fetal development.
Knewz.com is reporting that these scientists have successfully grown an embryo-like entity using stem cells, without the need for a sperm, egg, or a womb. To achieve this, the researchers used a combination of chemicals, rather than by genetically modified embryonic stem cells, to guide the stem cells into transforming into four crucial embryonic cells: epiblasts, trophoblasts, hypoblasts, and extraembryonic mesoderm cells. According to CBS, that creates a model similar to real human embryos with a yolk sac and amniotic cavity.
Professor Hanna acknowledges that it is the cells themselves and their remarkable ability to respond to the right conditions and develop accordingly.
“I give great credit to the cells – you have to bring the right mix and have the right environment and it just takes off. That’s an amazing phenomenon,” Professor Hanna said (via Metro).
The team allowed the embryos to develop for 14 days, which is the legal cut-off for embryo research as organs like the brain begin to develop after. However, the success of this synthetic embryo model may prompt a reconsideration of this rule, as it could provide valuable insights into early human development.
This synthetic embryo model is intended to provide a better understanding of how developmental disorders and birth defects occur during the first 14 days after fertilization.
Co-author of the study, Professor Jacob Hanna, explains that the knowledge of this crucial period is limited and often referred to as a "black box."
This lack of understanding can lead to developmental disorders and miscarriage. Therefore, scientists around the world are racing to develop new ways to study this early stage of human development. Earlier this year, a team from the University of Cambridge and the California Institute of Technology created synthetic embryos using stem cells.
However, the latest study published in the journal Nature is described as the first "complete" embryo model. The team successfully mimicked the key cells and structures of a human day-14 embryo.
In the UK, embryo models are legally distinct from human embryos. This distinction allows scientists to conduct research on these models in an ethical and controlled manner.
By developing artificial duplicates of human cells, scientists hope to gain a deeper understanding of inherited diseases and organ development.
This breakthrough in creating a complete embryo model is a significant step forward in the field of developmental biology. It holds the potential to shed light on the causes of developmental disorders and birth defects, leading to new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. As research continues, scientists are hopeful that this synthetic embryo model will unlock crucial insights into the earliest stages of human life.
Professor Alfonso Martinez Arias from Pompeu Fabra University in Spain also weighed in on the development saying:
“The work has, for the first time, achieved a faithful construction of the complete structure [of a human embryo] from stem cells, thus opening the door for studies of the events that lead to the formation of the human body plan," per BBC.
Story by Dave Malyon •
5h
Scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science and other research institutions have made a significant breakthrough in the study of early human fetal development.
Knewz.com is reporting that these scientists have successfully grown an embryo-like entity using stem cells, without the need for a sperm, egg, or a womb. To achieve this, the researchers used a combination of chemicals, rather than by genetically modified embryonic stem cells, to guide the stem cells into transforming into four crucial embryonic cells: epiblasts, trophoblasts, hypoblasts, and extraembryonic mesoderm cells. According to CBS, that creates a model similar to real human embryos with a yolk sac and amniotic cavity.
Professor Hanna acknowledges that it is the cells themselves and their remarkable ability to respond to the right conditions and develop accordingly.
“I give great credit to the cells – you have to bring the right mix and have the right environment and it just takes off. That’s an amazing phenomenon,” Professor Hanna said (via Metro).
The team allowed the embryos to develop for 14 days, which is the legal cut-off for embryo research as organs like the brain begin to develop after. However, the success of this synthetic embryo model may prompt a reconsideration of this rule, as it could provide valuable insights into early human development.
This synthetic embryo model is intended to provide a better understanding of how developmental disorders and birth defects occur during the first 14 days after fertilization.
Co-author of the study, Professor Jacob Hanna, explains that the knowledge of this crucial period is limited and often referred to as a "black box."
This lack of understanding can lead to developmental disorders and miscarriage. Therefore, scientists around the world are racing to develop new ways to study this early stage of human development. Earlier this year, a team from the University of Cambridge and the California Institute of Technology created synthetic embryos using stem cells.
However, the latest study published in the journal Nature is described as the first "complete" embryo model. The team successfully mimicked the key cells and structures of a human day-14 embryo.
In the UK, embryo models are legally distinct from human embryos. This distinction allows scientists to conduct research on these models in an ethical and controlled manner.
By developing artificial duplicates of human cells, scientists hope to gain a deeper understanding of inherited diseases and organ development.
This breakthrough in creating a complete embryo model is a significant step forward in the field of developmental biology. It holds the potential to shed light on the causes of developmental disorders and birth defects, leading to new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. As research continues, scientists are hopeful that this synthetic embryo model will unlock crucial insights into the earliest stages of human life.
Professor Alfonso Martinez Arias from Pompeu Fabra University in Spain also weighed in on the development saying:
“The work has, for the first time, achieved a faithful construction of the complete structure [of a human embryo] from stem cells, thus opening the door for studies of the events that lead to the formation of the human body plan," per BBC.