11/4/2023 0 Comments Induced pluripotent stem cells"That mean maybe exploitation of embryos, commercialization of reproduction. IVG could also lead to "designer babies," whose parents pick and choose the traits they desire. Prospective parents would be able to minimize the chances their children would be born with detrimental genes. An unlimited supply of genetically matched artificial human eggs, sperm and embryos for anyone, anytime could make scanning the genes of IVG embryos the norm. IVG could also enable gay and trans couples to have babies genetically related to both partners, for the first time allowing families, regardless of gender identity, to have biologically related children.īeyond that, IVG could potentially make traditional baby-making antiquated for everyone. That raises questions about whether there should be age limits for IVG baby-making. IVG would render the biological clock irrelevant, by enabling women of any age to have genetically related children. "This is the thing that we really have to think about." "There are so many ethical problems," Saitou says. "Even single mutations or mistakes are really disastrous." IVG could make new kinds of families possibleĮven if IVG can be shown to be safe, the Japanese scientists are also being cautious for another reason: They know IVG would raise serious moral, legal and societal issues. So there are many possibilities," Saitou says. "They may cause some sort of diseases, or maybe cancer, or maybe early death. In addition to waiting to publish their research before making any claims, the Japanese scientists also warn that many years of experimentation would be needed to make sure artificial IVG embryos aren't carrying dangerous genetic mutations. That's not yet published so I cannot tell," he says. When asked how close he is to success, Saitou demurs. "Some sort of incredible scientific breakthrough may happen. Like Hayashi, Saitou is also skeptical of the claims by Conception, the U.S. "They're bringing these cells to check cells' condition," Saitou explains. Just then, one of the scientists jumps out of his chair, cradling one of the dishes as he heads to another room. "We use mouse cells and also human cells," Saitou says, though he won't get more specific because he hasn't published the protocol yet in a scientific journal. They are examining their latest batch of very immature human eggs, and mixing them with other cells to see which chemical signals are necessary to coax them into full maturity. Three scientists are huddled around microscopes in the cramped culture room jammed with equipment. He is also trying to identify key genes necessary for egg development. "For example, we are trying to understand signals that instruct a cell's maturation," Saitou says. It's the most important place because this is where Saitou is trying to figure out how to get his IVG human eggs to mature enough so they can be fertilized. "We are trying to understand signals that instruct a cell's maturation," says Mitinori Saitou, a developmental biologist at Kyoto University. Hayashi predicts they'll have an IVG egg ready to try to fertilize within five to 10 years. It's more a question of when, he says, and that he and his colleagues in Japan are at least as close as the Americans to making "artificial" human embryos. ![]() That said, Hayashi thinks it's not a question if IVG will ever happen. Unraveling the biology of human egg development just doesn't move that fast, he says. "In my opinion - one year - I don't think so." But the Americans have released few details to back up their claim. Within a year, they say they'll be ready to make human eggs they hope to try to fertilize to make human embryos. Researchers at a biotech startup called Conception, based in California, claim they're about to lap the Japanese scientists. That sent scientific shock waves around the world and triggered an international race to do the same thing for people. Hayashi used mouse eggs like these to do something even more groundbreaking - breed apparently healthy, fertile mice. So in total like 4,000 immature eggs can be produced." "In one experiment, basically we can make like 20 ovarian organoids. "Basically we can get 200 immature eggs in one ovarian organoid," Hayashi says. These were grown using stem cells in Katsuhiko Hayashi's lab at Osaka University. Developing mouse egg cells glow on the computerized display of a microscope.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |