Author | Icey
Layout | Valuri Yang Keywords: Artificial human embryo models, in vitro fertilization technology (IVF), induced pluripotent stem cell(iPSC)
"Synthetic human embryos'' (Artificial human embryos) refers to lab-created human embryo models using biotechnology. These embryos are not created through the typical process of fertilizing egg cells with sperm, but are created through other methods, such as using stem cells.
In recent years, in vitro artificial embryo technology has attracted widespread attention. Because people's understanding of the early stages of embryonic development is incomplete, and the artificial embryo model provides a valuable model system for studying the early stages of human development. By studying artificial embryos in vitro, scientists can gain a deeper understanding of key events during early embryonic development, such as cell tissue formation and cell-to-cell communication.
01
History and Breakthroughs
The history of in vitro embryo research dates back to the early 20th century. The earliest attempts were to culturing egg cells and sperm in vitro, but the success rate was low. With the advancement of cell biotechnology, especially the development of in vitro fertilization technology (IVF), major breakthroughs have been made in in vitro artificial embryo research. Through IVF, sperm and egg cells combine outside the body and form early embryos, which provides the basis for in vitro embryo research.
In embryonic research, ethics is an issue of great concern that cannot be ignored. In 1979, the U.S. Department of Health first proposed that experiments on human embryos should not exceed 14 days, because human embryos have not differentiated neural structures and do not have human characteristics before 14 days. Therefore, the "14-day rule" has long been the rule in embryo research. However, the 14-day limit makes it difficult to achieve breakthroughs in experimental results. In May 2021, the International Stem Cell Research Society relaxed the "14-day rule". It is precisely due to the continuous development of science and technology that research after 14 days has been achieved, making more breakthroughs in embryonic research.
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Methods and Challenges
In vitro embryo research requires the use of a variety of technologies and methods, including stem cell culture, three-dimensional tissue engineering, CRISPR gene editing, etc. Among them, the most eye-catching is the application of human pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These cells can differentiate into various cell types in vitro after being induced by different media. This characteristic is often called pluripotency. Cell pluripotency is generally divided into two states: naive and primed. Among them, the gene stability of the naive state is better than that of the activated state, and it can form blastocyst chimeras. However, most human pluripotent stem cells are in a state of being activated, so how to stabilize stem cells in a state of being activated is also a problem that needs to be overcome.
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Ethical and legal challenges
In vitro embryo research poses significant ethical dilemmas. One of the most important issues is the legal status of in vitro embryos. Should structures constructed in vitro be considered embryos? Does this involve the origin of human life? In addition, whether there are ethical issues during the research process, such as the destruction, cloning and gene editing of human embryos, requires an international consensus on rules.
Future Prospects
In vitro embryonic research has great potential. It can be used in disease modeling to help researchers understand abnormalities and disease mechanisms in early embryonic development. In addition, it can also be used for drug testing and toxicity assessment, accelerating the process of new drug development. In the future, in vitro embryo research may also bring more innovations to the fields of reproductive medicine and life sciences.
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