Scientists say first synthetic human ’embryo’ created

Baby without sperm and eggs in future? Scientists create synthetic human embryos with brain and beating heart

Imagine a baby that is not conceived by the union of sperm and egg, but by the self-organization of human stem cells in a laboratory. This may sound like science fiction, but it is closer to reality than you might think.

Scientists have recently reported the creation of the most advanced synthetic human embryos yet, which can develop to a stage equivalent to that of natural embryos about 14 days after fertilization. These embryo models show structures and gene expression patterns found in human embryos during and after the process of gastrulation, when the cells that will form the body become organized into three layers.

These synthetic embryos are not actual human embryos, but rather simplified models that mimic some aspects of early human development. They are made entirely from human embryonic stem cells, some of which have been converted into cell types resembling the stem cells that form the placenta and the yolk sac outside a natural embryo.

The researchers say that these synthetic embryos could provide unprecedented opportunities to study human embryonic development at later stages than ever before, and to investigate the causes of developmental defects, pregnancy loss, and miscarriages. They could also help to test the safety and efficacy of drugs and therapies for pregnant women and their fetuses.

However, these synthetic embryos also raise ethical and legal questions about their status and regulation. How should they be treated and disposed of? How long should they be allowed to grow in the lab? Do they have any potential for life or sentience? How do they affect the dignity and rights of natural human embryos?

Currently, there are no clear laws or guidelines governing the creation and use of synthetic human embryos in most countries, including the US. Some experts have called for an urgent need for regulations to provide a framework for this emerging field of research. Others have suggested that existing rules for natural human embryos, such as the 14-day limit on their culture in vitro, should also apply to synthetic embryos.

The pace and sophistication of discoveries in this field have alarmed some bioethics experts, as they push ever closer to the edge of life. Some have argued that synthetic embryos should be subject to strict oversight and public consultation, and that their potential benefits should be weighed against their moral and social implications.

What do you think about this topic? Do you support or oppose the research on synthetic human embryos? What are your concerns or hopes for this technology? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

How are synthetic human embryos made and what can they do?

Synthetic human embryos are not made by fertilizing eggs with sperm, but by using human embryonic stem cells as the starting material. These stem cells have the ability to become any type of cell in the body, and can be manipulated to form different cell types and structures.

The researchers used two methods to create synthetic human embryos. One method involved placing human embryonic stem cells in a three-dimensional scaffold that mimics the shape and environment of a natural embryo. The other method involved mixing human embryonic stem cells with cells that resemble the ones that form the placenta and the yolk sac, and letting them self-organize into embryo-like structures.

Both methods resulted in synthetic embryos that showed features of natural human embryos at different stages of development. For example, they formed a cavity called the amniotic sac, which surrounds and protects the developing fetus. They also formed a structure called the primitive streak, which marks the beginning of gastrulation, when the cells that will form the body separate from the ones that will form the placenta and the yolk sac.

The synthetic embryos also expressed genes that are normally active in natural human embryos during and after gastrulation. These genes control the formation of different tissues and organs, such as the brain, heart, and gut.

The researchers were able to culture the synthetic embryos for up to 14 days in vitro, which is the limit for natural human embryos in most countries. They did not observe any signs of further development or differentiation beyond this stage.

The researchers say that these synthetic embryos could be used to study human embryonic development at stages that are currently inaccessible or unethical to investigate using natural embryos. They could also help to understand the causes and mechanisms of developmental disorders, pregnancy loss, and miscarriages, which often occur around or after gastrulation.

Moreover, these synthetic embryos could be used to test the effects of drugs and therapies on pregnant women and their fetuses, without harming natural embryos or animals. They could also be used to generate different types of cells and tissues for regenerative medicine.

However, these synthetic embryos are not perfect replicas of natural human embryos. They lack some key components and functions, such as maternal signals, blood vessels, immune cells, and neural activity. They also have abnormal numbers and arrangements of chromosomes, which could affect their viability and development.

Therefore, these synthetic embryos are not considered to be alive or capable of becoming a person. They are rather simplified models that approximate some aspects of early human development.

What are the ethical and legal issues of synthetic human embryos?

Synthetic human embryos are not natural human embryos, but they are not entirely different either. They share some features and genes with natural human embryos, and they could potentially be used to create or modify human life.

This raises ethical and legal questions about their status and regulation. How should they be treated and disposed of? How long should they be allowed to grow in the lab? Do they have any potential for life or sentience? How do they affect the dignity and rights of natural human embryos?

Currently, there are no clear laws or guidelines governing the creation and use of synthetic human embryos in most countries, including the US. Some experts have called for an urgent need for regulations to provide a framework for this emerging field of research. Others have suggested that existing rules for natural human embryos, such as the 14-day limit on their culture in vitro, should also apply to synthetic embryos.

Some of the ethical and legal issues that synthetic human embryos raise include:

- The respect for human life and dignity. Some people may argue that synthetic human embryos are still human in some sense, and that they deserve respect and protection as potential persons. They may also argue that creating and manipulating synthetic human embryos violates the dignity and rights of natural human embryos, which are the source of the stem cells used to make them.

- The moral status of synthetic human embryos. Some people may argue that synthetic human embryos are not human at all, and that they have no moral status or value. They may also argue that synthetic human embryos are just tools or models for scientific research, and that they can be used and disposed of as such.

- The potential for life or sentience. Some people may argue that synthetic human embryos have some potential for life or sentience, and that they should not be subjected to harm or suffering. They may also argue that synthetic human embryos could develop further or differently than expected, and that they could pose risks or challenges to natural human life.

- The regulation and oversight of synthetic human embryo research. Some people may argue that synthetic human embryo research should be regulated and overseen by authorities and experts, and that it should follow ethical principles and standards. They may also argue that synthetic human embryo research should be transparent and accountable to the public, and that it should respect the rights and interests of donors, researchers, patients, and society.

- The benefits and risks of synthetic human embryo research. Some people may argue that synthetic human embryo research has great benefits for science, medicine, and humanity, and that it could lead to breakthroughs in understanding and treating diseases, disorders, and injuries. They may also argue that synthetic human embryo research has minimal risks or harms, and that it could reduce the need for natural human embryos or animals in research.

What are the future prospects and challenges of synthetic human embryos?

Synthetic human embryos are a novel and powerful technology that could revolutionize the field of human embryology and beyond. They could enable new discoveries and applications in science, medicine, and society.

However, synthetic human embryos also face many challenges and uncertainties in their development and use. They could encounter technical difficulties, ethical dilemmas, legal disputes, and social controversies.

Some of the future prospects and challenges of synthetic human embryos include:

- The improvement and refinement of synthetic human embryo models. Synthetic human embryos are still far from being perfect replicas of natural human embryos. They lack some key components and functions, such as maternal signals, blood vessels, immune cells, and neural activity. They also have abnormal numbers and arrangements of chromosomes, which could affect their viability and development. Researchers are working to improve and refine synthetic human embryo models to make them more realistic and reliable.

- The extension and limitation of synthetic human embryo culture. Synthetic human embryos have been cultured for up to 14 days in vitro, which is the limit for natural human embryos in most countries. However, some researchers have expressed interest in extending the culture period beyond 14 days, to study later stages of human development that are currently inaccessible or unethical to investigate using natural embryos. This would require overcoming technical hurdles, as well as ethical and legal objections.

- The creation and modification of synthetic human life. Synthetic human embryos could potentially be used to create or modify human life, either intentionally or accidentally. For example, they could be implanted into a uterus, either human or animal, to generate a pregnancy. They could also be genetically edited or combined with other cells or organisms to create chimeras or hybrids. These scenarios would raise profound ethical and legal questions about the nature and value of human life.

- The impact and implication of synthetic human embryo research. Synthetic human embryo research could have significant impact and implication for science, medicine, and society. It could advance the knowledge and understanding of human development and disease. It could also improve the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions affecting pregnant women and their fetuses. It could also influence the perception and attitude of people towards human life and reproduction.

Source: 

(1) Most advanced synthetic human embryos yet spark controversy - Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01992-0.

(2) Explained: Why Did Scientists Develop Synthetic Embryos, What Are The Ethical And Moral Concerns?. https://www.outlookindia.com/international/explained-why-did-scientists-develop-synthetic-embryos-what-are-the-ethical-and-moral-concerns-news-295566.

(3) Synthetic embryo. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/editorials/synthetic-embryo-517754.

(4) Scientists create synthetic human embryo that could shed more light on miscarriage. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/techandscience/scientists-create-synthetic-human-embryo-that-could-shed-more-light-on-miscarriage/ar-AA1cCOEx.

(5) Scientists report creation of first human synthetic model embryos. https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/14/health/human-model-embryo/index.html.

(6) Synthetic human embryo raises ethical issues - BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-65914934.

FAQ's

Can a human baby be made without sperm?

In a remarkable breakthrough that could revamp the existing understanding of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) in the area of human reproduction, scientists have created synthetic human embryos using stem cells. The development reportedly dodges the need for eggs and sperm for the creation of human embryos.

Can a baby be made without an egg?

Share on Pinterest Researchers suggest it is possible to produce offspring without a female egg. Senior author Dr. Tony Perry, from the Department of Biology & Biochemistry at Bath, and colleagues publish their findings in the journal Nature Communications.

What is synthetic human embryo?

Two teams of scientists have announced that they have grown embryo-like structures made entirely from human stem cells that are more advanced than any previous efforts. The synthetic embryos develop to a stage equivalent to that of natural embryos about 14 days after fertilization.

Did scientists grow synthetic mouse embryo with brain and beating heart from stem cells?

Synthetic Mouse Embryo with Brain and Beating Heart Grown from Stem Cells. Researchers from the University of Cambridge have harnessed mouse stem cells to create model “synthetic” embryos that comprise a brain, a beating heart, and the foundations of all the other organs of the body.