Two research groups, including the United States, have announced that they have succeeded in creating a mass of cells such as "blastocysts" that can be seen in the early stages of a fertilized egg becoming a foetation using human iPS cells. ..
Experts point out that while useful for human developmental and reproductive medicine research, it can also lead to the creation of life from cells, creating ethical challenges.
The research was conducted by a group at the University of Texas in the United States and a group at Monash University in Australia, and published in the scientific journal "Nature."
Of these, the Texas University group is like a "blastocyst" that can be cultured in a special container containing a liquid containing a chemical that stimulates human iPS cells and ES cells, and can be formed within a few days of fertilization. It is said to have created a mass of cells.
In addition, a group at Monash University claims that similar cell clumps were formed from cells in the process of becoming iPS cells.
It is the first time that such a cell mass has been formed, and the shape, size, and number of cells are very similar to those of blastocysts, which is useful for research on human development and reproductive medicine.
On the other hand, the cell mass is different from the actual blastocyst that grows when it implants in the uterus.
Professor Michinori Saito of Kyoto University, who is conducting research on making germ cells from iPS cells, said, "Research on the process of becoming a foetation has been carried out in an extremely limited range using fertilized eggs left over from fertilization treatment. However, it is significant because it can be done without using fertilized eggs. However, there is a possibility that it will lead to human clones without using fertilized eggs, and new ethical issues will arise. " I will.