The emergence of iBlastoids: Time to update the law?
Appeared in BioNews 1092
Adult human skin cells have been reprogrammed to form three-dimensional structures similar to early human embryos by a team led by Professor Jose Polo at Monash University, Australia (see BioNews 1088).
Called 'iBlastoids', they could potentially enable us to learn how early human embryos develop and implant in the uterus. The studies could also lead to medical treatments for conditions such as infertility, miscarriage, developmental disorders and genetic diseases.
Typically, the development of an embryo begins with an egg being fertilised by the sperm, leading to cell divisions. After about five days, it results in a ball of around 100 cells called the blastocyst. In comparison, iBlastoids are created when cells removed from the adult human body (in this experiment, skin cells) are reprogrammed to become induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, using the innovative technique pioneered by the Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka. These iPS cells can be directed to specialise into different types of specific kinds of cells. The blastocyst-like organisation and derivation from iPS, give rise to the name iBlastoid.