Scientists have recently created clumps of cells in lab dishes that closely resemble human embryos. These embryo models, described in six studies published in June and July, have generated both excitement and concern. They provide researchers with new tools to study the “black box” of human development after embryos implant in the uterus. This is particularly valuable because donated human embryos are scarce and there are limitations on the types of experiments that can be conducted on them. Magdalena Żernicka-Goetz, a developmental and stem cell biologist at the University of Cambridge and Caltech, explained during a news briefing on June 27 that about 60 percent of pregnancies fail just before, during, or shortly after implantation. By studying these embryo models, scientists hope to gain insights into why many pregnancies fail and develop better fertility treatments.
2023-07-24 06:00:00
Source from www.sciencenews.org
