Scientists have created mouse embryos without eggs and sperm

Scientists from the University of Cambridge managed to create embryos “synthetics” from mice from mother cells.

A feat published in a magazine Cellindicates that the model does not require eggs or sperm, and opens up new theories in this area.

synthetic embryos

“It’s amazing that we’ve come this far. This has been the dream of our community for many years and the main focus of our work for a decade, and we have finally achieved it,” said Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, director of the research group.

Scientists imitated natural processes in all three types mother cells with whom they worked, making them “talk to each other”, achieving interaction and formation of the brain, the beating heart and the foundations of the rest of the organs of the animal’s body.

embryos they also managed to form a yolk sac, which is still the highest point of development in any other study mother cells up to date.

“Embryonic model mother cells this is important because it gives us access to a developing structure at a stage that is usually hidden from us due to the implantation of a tiny embryo in the mother’s uterus, ”said the researcher.

What is expected in the future

According to the team, their findings could help researchers understand why some embryos fail while others develop into healthy pregnancies. In addition, the results can be used to guide the recovery and development of synthetic human organs for transplantation.

“This opens up new possibilities for studying the mechanisms of development of the nervous system in an experimental model,” says Zernitska-Goetz. “This period of human life is so mysterious that to be able to see it happening on a plate, to have access to these mother cells understanding why there are so many failed pregnancies and how we can prevent it is quite important.”

However, the biggest problem now is to create embryos from mouse synthetic ones that can survive the early stages of development in the lab.

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