Cambridge University scientists have successfully created a living mouse embryo from stem cells with no fertilization required as published in the Nature Cell Biology Journal this week. Scientists believe that this could well be possible to replicate as human embryos.
After mixing two kinds of mouse stem cells a mouse embryo was formed after 4 days of growth in chemicals that mimick the natural womb.
Christopher Galichet a head scientist of the Francis Crick institute in an interview with Sputnik stated "Now we know that it’s possible to do it in mice. It’s not far-fetched to think that we could try to do the same thing in humans". He went on to say "I think the first thing that scientists have to do is see whether it’s possible using human stem cells to do it, and if it’s possible then we could generate a human embryo that way, but for research purposes only"
Until now, scientists have used left over human embryos from IVF treatments which must be destroyed within 14 days. Therefore, there is great interest in having unlimited supply of human embryos that aren't dependent on sperm and eggs.
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