For the origin of life, the fusion of the male and female germ cells is necessary. It is so? Is it possible to do without it? According to The Daily Mail, researchers from the University of Maastricht (Netherlands) have created an embryo based on stem cells. Without the use of eggs and sperm.
For their experiments, the scientists combined 2 sets of stem cells from different individuals in a test tube. Moreover, having united, this cell grew and reached the stage of the embryo, not differing in structure from the embryos formed in the "traditional" way. The cells have grown to an early stage of the embryo before implantation into the uterus, becoming a blastocyst, that is, the process of cell differentiation has already begun in them. Moreover, after the blastocyst was transplanted into the uterus, it caused changes similar to those that occur in the embryo stage of three and a half days.
Of course, the experiments were not carried out on humans, but on laboratory mice. But the researchers say that once the tests are complete, the new technology will lead to the creation of living organisms without the participation of sperm or eggs within the next three years. The creation, or even "production" of such embryos will open the door to an unlimited supply of absolutely identical individuals that can be used for research. But some scientists are wary of this technology. After all, theoretically, this technique can be repeated in humans, although it will take much more time. Experts predict that it will take 15 to 20 years, but the prospect of creating an entire army of clones looks a little daunting.
Vladimir Kuznetsov
