Unveiling a Paradigm Shift: Human Embryo Models Redefining Legal, Ethical, and Biological Boundaries

Scientists are seeking to learn more about the early stages of human development using embryonic models created from stem cells.

Models created by scientists at the University of Cambridge may ultimately shed light on why and how pregnancy is terminated, as well as genetic disorders.

Scientists note that 3D models are created from stem cells, not eggs and sperm, so they cannot grow into children, but they can reproduce embryonic development in the second week of pregnancy.

Study leader Magdalena Zernica-Goetz, from the Department of Physiology, Development and Neurology at the University of Cambridge, explained: “Our embryo-like model made entirely from human stem cells allows us to access a developing structure at a stage that would normally be hidden from us by implantation. tiny embryo in the womb.”

“This exciting development allows us to manipulate genes to understand their role in the development of the model system. This will allow us to test the function of specific factors, which is difficult to do in a normal fetus,” she added in a university press release.

In early pregnancy, the embryo is implanted in the uterus in the second week, so this is a key moment. Many pregnancies are lost at this stage.

Scientists say that these new developments will allow them to look into the “black box” of the period of human development. It may also lead to new knowledge about the causes of human birth defects and diseases.

Scientists have also previously been able to observe this period in animal models such as zebrafish and mice, and in donated human embryos.

Normal human embryos cannot be grown in a laboratory in the UK for more than 14 days, during which time the embryo cannot form twins.

According to Dr. Zernitz-Goetz, these models cannot and will not develop into the equivalent of normal human embryos.

Models don’t have brains or beating hearts. They include cells that normally go on to form the fetus, placenta, and yolk sac, and also develop into germ cell precursors that form sperm and eggs.

And when these three types of cells send mechanical and chemical signals to each other to implant and tell the embryo how to develop properly, this is also the time when many pregnancies fail.

Strict regulations require embryo modeling work to be approved by ethics committees. Journals require confirmation before accepting scientific articles. According to a press release from the University of Cambridge, this lab has received these approvals.

“It is a violation of the law and regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to transfer any fetal models to a woman for reproductive purposes,” said Ansu Hyun, a member of the Center for Bioethics at Harvard Medical School. These are heavily modified human cells and it would be very dangerous to try to use them in childbirth.”

The study, funded by the Wellcome Trust and Open Philanthropy, is published in the journal Nature.

Source: Medical Express