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Original poster

Fully Lab Made Embryo - Thoughts....?

35 replies

SpicyMoth · 06/09/2023 18:28

Apologies if this has been posted about already but I couldn't see it anywhere when checking!

Just wondered people's thoughts on this?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-66715669

My gut reaction is honestly hard to describe.
In terms of research, I imagine like the article says, it could be far more ethical.
(Though I'm still sceptical, if it is objectively an embryo that they've created, then it would grow into something at some point, thus making it once again unethical surely? Creating life, even if no sperm or egg is directly used and then experimenting on said life, HAS to be unethical by definition doesn't it?)

In terms of everything else though?
It worries me. When we've already heard talk of babies being grown in pods in big facilities as "proof of concept" stuff, or the possibility of women who are in "brain dead" states being used as "birthing vessels" for others, the womb transplant success and it's conversation immediately becoming "But what about men"

I'm just struggling to see a world where this happens, and it isn't a net negative for humanity honestly.
I don't trust "the people in charge" whoever they may be, to actually be doing anything beneficial for humanity with this sadly :/

Close up shot of pair of hands in latex gloves using equipment in a lab

Scientists grow whole model of human embryo, without sperm or egg

The research helps understanding of the earliest moments of life and the reasons behind infertility.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-66715669

OP posts:
inkjet · 06/09/2023 20:21

Clymene · 06/09/2023 19:44

The number of things that biochemists could be doing which would be extraordinary is vast.

Creating faux human embryos isn't one of them.

This was my first thought too.

IreneGoodnight · 06/09/2023 19:46

Thin end of the wedge?

Clymene · 06/09/2023 19:44

The number of things that biochemists could be doing which would be extraordinary is vast.

Creating faux human embryos isn't one of them.

Original poster
SpicyMoth · 06/09/2023 19:41

Flickersy · 06/09/2023 19:16

It's not an embryo.

It's an embryo model, derived from stem cells, which grew into something that resembled but was not identical to a human embryo. And of those stem cells, only 1% actually did this. It had a 99% failure rate.

So not an embryo, and far from being successful. It's fascinating and very clever, but light years away from being replicable en masse or presenting any possibility of growing a full formed human in a lab.

Yes, you're right - but in my mind that doesn't really change much to be honest?

If anything in my mind it'd make the whole experiment's ethicality more of an issue because then, what is it? It's not nothing, it's still cells that presumably could grow into something.

The article goes on to say "The embryo models were allowed to grow and develop until they were comparable to an embryo 14 days after fertilisation. In many countries, this is the legal cut-off for normal embryo research."
So hypothetically, this is an embryo, even if a model one, that could continue to grow and develop if it was "allowed" to.
What would it grow/develop into if, as you rightly say, this is not identical to a human embryo? What are they making?
That in and of itself seems pretty horrifying and unethical to me.

Even if it's not an exact "embryo" in the sense that we know it, It's still something being worked on, being funded, having time and energy put into it.

I simply don't trust their reasoning or what they say this step in science could provide for people - Even if that type of thing is lightyears away, I don't want to be sitting idly by whilst steps in that direction are being made.
Even if those things are the intent and there is no ulterior motive, I don't trust the original intent not be hijacked by activists over time :/

OP posts:
ArabeIIaScott · 06/09/2023 19:28

It's a no from me.

Flickersy · 06/09/2023 19:16

It's not an embryo.

It's an embryo model, derived from stem cells, which grew into something that resembled but was not identical to a human embryo. And of those stem cells, only 1% actually did this. It had a 99% failure rate.

So not an embryo, and far from being successful. It's fascinating and very clever, but light years away from being replicable en masse or presenting any possibility of growing a full formed human in a lab.

Toseland · 06/09/2023 19:01

We must protect Mothers at all cost, this is far too dangerous for women and children. Look at the money being pumped into these experiments, where is it all coming from?

AmbleInAnnBoleyn · 06/09/2023 18:59

That is very fkin creepy. No thank you.

Toseland · 06/09/2023 18:58

It's almost like the Matrix directors were making a promotional or propaganda film.

Wetandhorrible · 06/09/2023 18:53

Agree OP,I find it hard to trust that people who'd use this for every unethical,and selfish, purpose possible would be stopped by society,as apparently we can't say no anymore.