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Scientists develop controversial human embryoids producing device!

Researchers have now invented a device which is capable of producing large numbers of living entities, that resemble very primitive human embryos, very quickly.

Scientists welcomed this development of human embryoids producing device, described Wednesday in the journal Nature, as an important advance that helps for studying the earliest days of human embryonic development. But this development of this device also raises a lot of questions about where to draw the line in manufacturing synthetic human life.

human embryoids producing device
These human embryo-like structures (top) were synthesized from human stem cells; they’ve been stained to illustrate different cell types. Images (bottom) of the “embryoids” in the new device that was invented to make them. Yi Zheng/University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Other researchers have previously created synthetic embryos, which are also known as embryoids. These embryoids are made by coaxing human stem cells to form structures found in very early human embryos. The research study has raised questions about how similar to complete embryos they could and should be allowed to become.

The new work takes such a study further by creating a method that can rapidly generate relatively large numbers of human

embryoids.

Jianping Fu who is an associate professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, who led the research, said that this new device allows us to achieve a superior efficiency to generate these early human embryo-like structures.

Fu calls this step as an exciting new milestone for this emerging field that should significantly improve the ability of researchers to study early human development.

And such human embryo-like structures have a lot of potentials to open what we call the so-called black box of human development, Fu added.

He was referring to the first few weeks after a sperm fertilizes an egg where the embryo is inside a female’s body and hard to study. A long-standing guideline bars researchers from conducting studies on embryos in their laboratories beyond 14 days of development for various ethical reasons.

Fu said that the ability to produce large numbers of embryoids, which are not subject to the 14-day guideline, will hopefully provide researchers with new insights into important health issues, including how to prevent birth defects and miscarriages. In addition, scientists could use the embryoids to screen medicines, to help determine whether these medications are safe for pregnant women to take. And such research can lead to a lot of good, Fu added.

human embryoids producing device
The new device from the University of Michigan team enables scientists to rapidly produce large numbers of “embryo-like” structures. Human stem cells are first placed into the device; then chemicals are added to adjoining wells that stimulate the cells to grow key structures of human embryos. Yi Zheng/University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Ria Roy completed her Post Grad degree at the Visvesvaraya Technological University. She has a great grounding in the skills, including technical, analytical and research skills. She is a motivated life science professional with experience of working in famous research institutes

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