People struggling to have a child have over the years found hope in assisted pregnancies through procedures like IVF, that have recently been enhanced via innovations. Firms in Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East have created AI solutions to pick the right embryo to be implanted in the womb for higher success rates.
Medtech has even opened doors for women to conduct crucial tests like ultrasound on their own via gadgets, for safe pregnancies in times of social distancing. Going a step further, Israeli scientists have achieved a breakthrough which may enable the development of babies in artificial wombs, outside the body.
As part of a successful experiment, researchers turned 250 mouse embryos into foetuses with fully developed organs in an artificial womb. The process is being touted as a major leap forward for understanding organ formation by getting a clearer view of the process that takes place inside the womb.
This technique can be developed further to open a window into the future where even human beings will be created outside the body, in man-made environments. Although the possibilities are endless, scientists have acknowledged that ethical concerns about creation of babies in an artificial womb, will have to be addressed.
Previous experiments in 2017, when lambs were created in a similar manner, involved a method where the foetuses had already developed organs before being placed inside artificial wombs. But the current breakthrough in Israel has imitated the entire natural process, although the mouse foetuses only survived for 11 days this time.
The development of this next level mechanical womb comes at a time when artificial organs are promising a revolution in medicine. Skin created by 4D bio-printing is being used to heal burn injuries, while an artificial cornea has successfully been able to cure visual impairment, and is promising to end dependency on organ donations.
With 3D printing picking up pace, doctors are also working on printing vital organs to be used for more sophisticated transplants.
