Using no sperm, eggs or uterus, scientists have for the first time created a model human embryo that fully mimics all known characteristics of a real embryo. According to BBC News, the aim is to help understand and clarify the early stages of human development.
The model was developed from stem cells. they have been reprogrammed to gain the potential to become any type of tissue in the body. The scientists then used chemicals to transform them into four types of cells (epiblast, trophoblast, epiblastic mesoderm, and extraembryonic) that are normally found in the early stages of the human embryo.
In total, 120 cells were mixed and then organized into structures that mimic the 3D organization of a real 14-day embryo. These have developed a placenta, a yolk sac, a chorionic sac membrane. The model even released hormones that They tested positive on a pregnancy test.
“I give a lot of credit to the cells: you have to provide the right combination and the right environment for it to take off,” said Professor Jacob Hanna, who led the research at Israel’s Weizmann Institute. “It’s an amazing phenomenon.”
“This is the first embryo model to display structural compartmental organization and morphological similarity to a day 14 human embryo,” he added, quoted in The Guardian.
Embryo models will now be used to help scientists understand the first steps in building the body’s organs, understand hereditary and genetic diseases, or even assess the impact of drugs on real human embryos. As the British newspaper explains, pregnant women are often excluded from clinical trials, which means that the side effects of some common treatments and medications in women and babies are unknown. The models could also be used to improve IVF rates, as they can help understand the reasons why some embryos fail treatment.
Source: Observadora
