Scientists have developed an experimental way to study how human embryos implant in a uterus, which may provide new insights into why miscarriages occur and how they can be prevented.
Scientists have developed an experimental way to study how human embryos implant in a uterus, which may provide new insights into why miscarriages occur and how they can be prevented.Scientists have gotten an unprecedented look at how the human embryo implants in a uterus.
They did this by creating very primitive, womb-like environments in the lab. The goal is to help people have healthy babies by finding new clues to the causes of miscarriages and infertility. But the research raises tough ethical concerns. It was"This is really important work that's moving embryo research forward – an important advance in the search for scientific answers for what makes a pregnancy healthy," says, a bioethicist at The Hastings Center, a bioethics think tank, who was not involved in the research."However, it also presents a technology that could be used for other purposes that are concerning."That includes the possibility of some day using this kind of technology to enable embryos to develop much further – perhaps even completely – in the lab. This process, called ectogenesis, has the potential to make a natural human womb unnecessary. But the scientists working on this research argue that possibility remains theoretical, and the work could yield important clues to early human development.One of the most important moments in a human embryo's journey to becoming a baby is when the microscopic ball of cells burrows into the womb. But that pivotal step of embryonic implantation has long been mysterious because it unfolds hidden inside the body. "Human implantation is essentially a black box — a mystery," Wu says."Implantation happens very early on during pregnancy. Essentially we don't know when, we don't know where. It's happening in a womb we cannot have access to."In the new research, Wu and colleagues in China obtained cells and tissue collected from the lining of wombs during routine medical procedures and figured out how to recreate a key part of the lining of the womb inside tiny plastic devices in their labs.The scientists then placed human embryos donated for research after infertility treatments, as well as primitive embryo-like entities created from stem cells — called"For the first time, we observed the entire sequence of human implantation," Wu says."We are very excited about this." The researchers have already used their wombs on chips to discover clues about how embryos and wombs interact, which can"help us understand the implantation process at the molecular level," Wu says."We observed implantation failure right in front of our eyes, which is very surprising and also exciting," Wu says. Wu's team even screened more than 1,100 drugs to see if any might prevent miscarriages, and identified some that look promising."We've been able to observe some really fantastic aspects of human embryo development, many of which have never been seen before," says, a developmental biologist at the Babraham Institute."To be able to see these events for the first time, it was fantastic.", a developmental biologist at the Francis Crick Institute in London who was not involved in the research."I think they will allow more information to be developed about this absolutely critical stage of human development which has to date been otherwise pretty much impossible to study.""For those of us who believe that humans are humans and deserving of ethical respect, whether embryonic, adolescent, or elderly, these experiments are unethical," says Dr. The experiments also raise questions about using these devices to study human embryos past 14 days of development, which is considered off limits in many places. There are also concerns about implanting even primitive embryo models created from stem cells into anything that resembles a human womb. "Some might be concerned with how far this might go," says Hyun, the Hastings Center bioethicist."It is a little bit on a slippery slope scientifically.""It's research that could facilitate future attempts to support not only research on early embryos but on growing embryos for significant periods of time in labs, perhaps eventually to the point of fetuses," says Iltis, the Wake Forest University bioethicist. If that ever became possible, it raises the prospect of producing human fetuses for"spare parts," Iltis says."They could be grown to be sources of organs and tissues for transplantation. That is very troubling." The researchers doing the work say their research is nowhere near that, and they have no intention to pursue it.to save very premature babies. So what sounds like science fiction today, could become a reality much sooner than many people think. "We have this long history of saying, 'Don't worry. The science isn't there. That's not the goal. That's not what we're trying to do.' And then being presented with a breakthrough that signals that the train has left the station.""I don't think it's far-fetched to think that eventually it might be possible to create lab-generated tissues and organs through something like this technology."
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Scientists say they have discovered 20 new species deep in the Pacific OceanResearchers retrieved reef monitoring devices that had been placed in deep coral reefs in Guam. The devices were placed up to 330 feet below the surface.
Read more »
Scientists shatter timeline of human fire-making with 400,000-year-old discovery in EnglandFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
99.8% success rate: Scientists achieve new level of controls over molecules, manipulate a molecular ionScientists were able to manipulate a calcium monohydride molecular ion — made up of one atom of hydrogen and one atom of calcium.
Read more »
Scientists May Have Discovered 20 New Species in ‘Twilight Zone’“This expedition marks a major leap forward in understanding our planet’s most overlooked reefs,” said Shannon Bennett.
Read more »
Scientists claim 'Lucy' may not be our direct ancestor after all, stoking fierce debateSophie is a U.K.-based staff writer at Live Science. She covers a wide range of topics, having previously reported on research spanning from bonobo communication to the first water in the universe.
Read more »
Proposed Gutting of NCAR Sparks Outcry from Climate Scientists and Colorado OfficialsThe potential dismantling of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) by the administration has triggered strong opposition from scientists and Colorado representatives. Concerns center on the impact of this move on climate change research and the nation's ability to address related challenges. NCAR provides critical resources for atmospheric and climate science.
Read more »