Posted on 08/02/2022 1:38:30 PM PDT by gitmo
In peer-reviewed breakthrough, embryos grown from stem cells; diverse group of scientists says method may one day be used to ethically grow cells for replacement human organs
An Israeli lab has grown synthetic mouse embryos with brains and beating hearts — in an egg-free sperm-free procedure that used stem cells taken from skin.
The breakthrough, published on Monday in the peer-reviewed journal Cell, represents the first time that an advanced embryo of any species has been created from stem cells alone, cell biologist Prof. Jacob Hanna of the Weizmann Institute of Science told The Times of Israel.
Hanna, whose team of researchers includes Jewish and Arab Israelis as well as a Palestinian doctoral student, said that previous attempts had led only to blastocysts, meaning the structures formed in the early development of mammals. Blastocysts have a tiny fraction of the million-plus cells that are in his embryos.
“It’s remarkable,” he commented. “There was no sperm, no egg and no uterus, but we managed to get embryos formed from stem cells alone to eight days — a third of the gestation period of a mouse — with a beating heart.”
He said that the research could one day be used to grow artificial human embryo-like structures to generate cells for futuristic medical solutions.
Hanna said synthetic embryo-like structures could be viewed very differently. They are similar to regular embryos, but are not viable for implantation.
He foresees a day when sick patients may give skin or blood cells for the growth of artificial embryo-like structures, which could in turn yield the cells needed to grow organs.
The key to Hanna’s achievement is a special incubator system in which each embryo is in a bottle with liquid, and the bottle is spinning to ensure it does not attach to the side. The incubator creates all the necessary conditions for the embryo’s development, including gas concentration, pressure and temperature. The liquid — developed in his lab — gives the embryos all the nutrients, hormones, and sugars they need.
In March 2021, Hanna’s lab used the incubator to grow 250-cell embryos into mouse fetuses with fully formed organs using artificial wombs. “The difference between that research and what we achieved now is where the embryos come from,” Hanna explained. “In the previous study, they were natural embryos that came from mice and originated as eggs fertilized by sperm. Now, the embryos are made purely from stem cells.”
He added: “We were asking at the time of the previous study what would happen if we took just stem cells and put them in this machine. Now we know the answer — embryos with early-form organs, including an early brain, a beating heart, blood stem cells. They even mimic the whole embryo, and the tissues around it include the placenta and the yolk sack.”
“Nobody has made advanced embryos from stem cells, ever, so this is significant. This will both advance understanding of stem cells and organs in mammals, and is likely to have practical significance in the future.”
“The company extracts cells from live animals. It cultures those cells in stainless steel fermenters, where they reproduce and develop into edible tissues. The company claims that reproduction rates are 10x greater than others, while generating 20% of their greenhouse gas emissions. Compared to animal husbandry, it uses 1% of the land and 4% of the water. In 2021, it reduced the cost of a cultured chicken breast from US$7.50 to $1.70”
That would make sense... to the Third Reich.
Naa, those are just Cornish Cross meat birds allowed to grow a few days past prime. I get the Mountainaire whole chickens which are taken at 3-4 lbs.
Let them get to 5-6 lbs and you have big firm rubbery breasts, kind of like the old implants for women.
Those Cornish Cross grow to slaughter size in about 42 days. A heritage breed takes months. The Cornish Cross is standard breeding with four specific grandparent strains but taken to the extreme.
For cultured or vegetable based meat, they haven’t been able to duplicate muscle pattern and texture yet so the fake meat will be as hamburgers and chicken nuggets to start.
Forget the problem with male pattern baldness. I wouldn't want thick hair if I could grow it. But skin should be an easy problem to solve.
When I hear about "living" beings without souls, I think of Democrats. Even creepier.
I don't think so Tim.
When I hear about “living” beings without souls, I think of Democrats. Even creepier.
Greatest movie line ever....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crfWULraP68
Or Zee Fourth Industrial Revolution.
ain’t that the truth...
Brave New World.
They’ll have machines produce humans on Mars.
That short clip always puts a little spring in my step.
As wonderful a breakthrough this is and all the good it could serve, I cant help but to wonder when the Alien drones are created to counteract the rise of the robots.
Interesting. No need for manned space travel. Create man on Mars, making machines the creators. That’s weird.
Haven't we had enough of them already? They are nothing but trouble.
God may see their potential...but even He knows they have to be transformed into His likeness to be of any value.
That doesnt change anything. The fact that it followed a path that brought about 2 lives doesnt change that it started as a unique individual.
Yes but its the “wrong” people. Useless eaters due to age. Have to stamp out a few million to get the factories and armies running again.
Yep, no value to the machine created life— after all it’s just a clump of cells...
That’s from the garbage they feed their chickens.
Centaurs and Minotaurs are next on the agenda.
Every time I visit India, people are more fat, and young people are taller. When I left in 1960, I knew only 1 person over 6 feet tall. Now it is common and not unusual. The diet is so much better now than when I left.
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