Earlier this year, several labs around the world released pre-print studies that had not been peer-reviewed, describing their development of early human embryo-like structures. But now one group’s research has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature, describing how they coaxed human embryonic stem cells to self-organise into a model resembling an early embryo. Also Read | Human embryo model created from stem cells could help understand why some pregnancies failBritish law prohibits the culturing of human embryos in labs beyond the 14-day mark, but because the structures derived from stem cells are formed artifically, they are not explicitly covered by existing regulations. The work will however renew debate on the need for clearer ethical rules on the development of lab-grown human embryo models. In Britain, Cambridge University has begun developing the country’s first governance framework for stem cell-based human embryo models.

Source: The Hindu September 08, 2023 16:41 UTC