What if stem cells turn into embryos in a dish?

Pera, Martin F; de Wert, Guido; Dondorp, Wybo; Lovell-Badge, Robin; Mummery, Christine L; Munsie, Megan; Tam, Patrick P · Nat Methods · 2015

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Recent studies show that pluripotent stem cells can undergo self-organized development in vitro into structures that mimic the body plan of the post-implantation embryo. Modeling human embryogenesis in a dish opens up new possibilities for the study of early development and developmental disorders, but it may also raise substantial ethical concerns.

Medical subject headings