Scientists grow whole model of human embryo, without sperm or egg

[Amity Island]

Scientists have grown an entity that closely resembles an early human embryo, without using sperm, eggs or a womb.

The Weizmann Institute team say their "embryo model", made using stem cells, looks like a textbook example of a real 14-day-old embryo.

It even released hormones that turned a pregnancy test positive in the lab

Scientists grow whole model of human embryo, without sperm or egg

The research helps understanding of the earliest moments of life and the reasons behind infertility.

www.google.com

 

[RichardA]

What are they going to call it ...... Frank

 

[Amity Island]

Who will raise, love and nurture these parentless kids? What will their family tree look like? Who will they belong to?

 

[Satan’s little helper]

Who will raise, love and nurture these parentless kids? What will their family tree look like? Who will they belong to?

I can see these forms of “human livestock” being bred for certain “traits.” Soldier class, or worker drone?

 

[Amity Island]

I can see these forms of “human livestock” being bred for certain “traits.” Soldier class, or worker drone?

So what do you reckon? This will one day lead to un-born children?

 

[rebrascora]

They currently have to be terminated at 14 days and there is little to indicate they could be nurtured to full term if they were not terminated, with current methods. We still have to transplant real human embryos back into women to nurture and grow them. I can understand the Frankenstein references and without adequate regulation, you can see the potential for all sorts of evil, but I think that is the same for any development in science. It can be used for good or evil and you have to put rules in place to cover those risks. I think it is very easy to have a gut reaction to this stuff in particular because it snags the threads of our religious, cultural and social values, as well as our sense of "self" as humans. I think it is really important that we are fundamentally uncomfortable with the idea so that we ensure as a society that those checks and balances are put in place, but I don't think the research itself is fundamentally wrong and much good could come of it, like growing organs for transplant.... and I am not talking about growing "people" to harvest organs from..... that has already been covered in the movies.... "The Island" I believe.

Really impressive that the embryo can trigger a positive pregnancy test, but maybe only because I hadn't really considered that it might.

 

[Drummer]

The situation is rather like having an engine, petrol or diesel doesn't matter, but it isn't a car - for that you need all the supporting and controlling bits, and they go back to traction engines, which go back to horse drawn carriages and waggons and chariots - you need the history and development in order to have something viable.
There was a proposal that it might be possible to use frozen mammoth genetic material to get back something like a mammoth by using an elephant egg and artificial fertilization to get an elephant pregnant and then - if a viable offspring was produced, to add in more mammoth material over several generations to make something more and more like a mammoth, but it would never be 100% mammoth as it would always be engendered within an elephant 'mothering capsule' rather than a mammoth one.

 

[Satan’s little helper]

So what do you reckon? This will one day lead to un-born children?

AIs will never replace hairdressers. This is where I see the application for a “shake & bake” organic workforce.
Frankenstein’s monster never had a name. Though, I believe he named himself “Adam?” (In the story.)
If it was a “grow your own” stylist? Edward would be a great name. (Tim Burton movie reference.)

 

[nonethewiser]

Scientists have grown an entity that closely resembles an early human embryo, without using sperm, eggs or a womb.

The Weizmann Institute team say their "embryo model", made using stem cells, looks like a textbook example of a real 14-day-old embryo.

It even released hormones that turned a pregnancy test positive in the lab

Scientists grow whole model of human embryo, without sperm or egg

The research helps understanding of the earliest moments of life and the reasons behind infertility.

www.google.com

Don't meddle with the unknown, science as fantastic as it is can go just way to far.

 

[Amity Island]

Don't meddle with the unknown, science as fantastic as it is can go just way to far.

It brings back a memory of this little clip from Jurassic Park.

 

[Satan’s little helper]

Don't meddle with the unknown, science as fantastic as it is can go just way to far.

Puts me in mind of the 2005 movie “The island.” 😉 which I see as one serious “potential?”

 

[Inka]

It reminds me of Never Let Me Go. A second class of not quite humans.