Lab Grown Human Embryo Model

Lab Grown Human Embryo Model

News: Recently, Scientists have achieved a remarkable feat by creating a lab-grown 'human embryo' model.

What is Lab Grown Human Embryo Model?
• A lab-grown human embryo model is a scientific development where researchers have successfully created structures that closely resemble human embryos. These models are developed using stem cells and have been grown outside of a womb.
• The models mimic the structure of actual embryos about 14 days into development. They offer a window into the earliest stages of human development, when a fertilized egg first starts dividing and implants in the wall of the uterus.

What Have These Models Revealed About Early Development?
• Models help uncover errors in Deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) duplication and chromosome distribution. Researchers found that DNA duplication abnormalities occur early in the process, affecting cell division.
• These models enable the study of gene functions and their roles in fetal development.

Why Are Embryo Models and Research Important?
• Studying early embryo development is ethically challenging once implantation in the uterus occurs.
• Research during these initial stages is vital as most miscarriages and birth defects happen in this period.
• Understanding normal embryo development and genetic factors can improve invitro fertilization outcomes. It helps researchers grasp genetic, epigenetic, and environmental influences on embryonic development.
• Researchers hope such models will be useful for studying birth defects that emerge early in development, reasons pregnancies can fail at this stage, and how drug exposures affect developing embryos.

Can Lab-Grown Embryos Be Used for Pregnancy?
• No, these models are intended solely for studying early fetal development. They are generally destroyed after 14 days, and implantation is not permitted.