Recent advances in creating models of human embryos using stem cells may reveal mysteries of early human development. Scientists like Jacob Hanna at the Weizmann Institute of Science have been working on how to group stem cells together in ways that mimic key features of genuine embryos.
“We know the basics, but the very fine details we just don’t know,” said Hanna, a developmental biologist.
These embryo models are not real embryos and cannot develop into human beings. The scientists involved in the research emphasize that their aim is not human reproduction but to gain insights into early human development and find new treatments for infertility and diseases like cancer.
“We do it to save lives, not create it,” said Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, a developmental biologist at the University of Cambridge and the California Institute of Technology, who led a similar research effort.
Developmental biologists were previously limited to studying embryos collected from miscarriages or abortions, leaving many unanswered questions. The ability to create models of embryos in the lab opens up new possibilities for studying how embryos grow.
Traditionally, scientists have been permitted to study human embryos for 14 days before they must destroy them, but new advances in keeping embryos alive have generated discussions about raising the cap. A lack of donated embryos also poses a problem for such research.
In recent experiments, however, researchers have been able to create the spontaneous organization of cells into embryo-like structures by simulating the cell types observed in developing embryos.
Creating reliable models of embryos could enable large-scale experiments that investigate causes of pregnancy failures and test potential treatments. These models could also be used to screen drugs and develop new stem-cell-based treatments for diseases such as cancer.
The current methods are in the early stages, and the techniques used to create these models may not be fully reliable. Further research and refinement are necessary to advance our understanding of early human development and harness the potential benefits of embryo models.
“We know the basics, but the very fine details we just don’t know,” said Hanna, a developmental biologist.
These embryo models are not real embryos and cannot develop into human beings. The scientists involved in the research emphasize that their aim is not human reproduction but to gain insights into early human development and find new treatments for infertility and diseases like cancer.
“We do it to save lives, not create it,” said Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, a developmental biologist at the University of Cambridge and the California Institute of Technology, who led a similar research effort.
Developmental biologists were previously limited to studying embryos collected from miscarriages or abortions, leaving many unanswered questions. The ability to create models of embryos in the lab opens up new possibilities for studying how embryos grow.
Traditionally, scientists have been permitted to study human embryos for 14 days before they must destroy them, but new advances in keeping embryos alive have generated discussions about raising the cap. A lack of donated embryos also poses a problem for such research.
In recent experiments, however, researchers have been able to create the spontaneous organization of cells into embryo-like structures by simulating the cell types observed in developing embryos.
Creating reliable models of embryos could enable large-scale experiments that investigate causes of pregnancy failures and test potential treatments. These models could also be used to screen drugs and develop new stem-cell-based treatments for diseases such as cancer.
The current methods are in the early stages, and the techniques used to create these models may not be fully reliable. Further research and refinement are necessary to advance our understanding of early human development and harness the potential benefits of embryo models.
