Scientists Are Close To Building Artificial Wombs That Work

Science has already proven several advances in pregnancy like test tube babies and in-vitro fertilization, but is it also possible to bring a baby to full term outside of a woman's body? A group of scientists have just announced that artificial wombs can now sustain human embryos in artificial wombs for up to 2 weeks.

The Data On Artificial Wombs

There were two separate studies, one being published in Nature while the other was reported in Nature Cell Biology, but both had the same results: It is now possible for a petri dish or artificial womb to sustain a human embryo for up to 14 days. This is effectively 5 days longer compared to the previously reported record of 9 days.

The 14-Day Limit On Human Embryo Research

Although the studies were indeed groundbreaking, the scientists also noted that the artificial wombs may have been able to sustain the embryos much longer. However, they had to adhere to the 14 day limit imposed on human embryo research (via Nature), making it impossible to learn more about implantation. Lead researcher Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz addressed this issue in a statement.

"Implantation is a milestone in human development as it is from this stage onwards that the embryo really begins to take shape and the overall body plan are decided, but until now, it has been impossible to study this in human embryos," Zernicka-Goetz said. "This new technique provides us with a unique opportunity to get a deeper understanding of our own development during these crucial stages and help us understand what happens, for example, during miscarriage."

Understanding Embryonic Development

The studies also aimed to understand the causes of autism as well the neurological effects of the Zika virus. In addition to that, the scientists also hoped to learn more about fetal alcohol syndrome and the effects of certain chemicals on embryonic development.