The Japanese government has approved the use of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells to create human embryos, Japan Today reports. These cells are obtained by genetically reprogramming skin cells, after which they are used to form sperm and eggs, which can be combined into an embryo.
Previously, researchers were limited to creating germ cell precursors because there were no clear government regulations for the next steps. The new solution allows for the creation of full-fledged embryos, which opens up prospects for studying the causes of infertility and hereditary diseases.
Japan's government bioethics commission has set strict limits: embryos created from iPS cells can only be cultured for 14 days, after which they must be destroyed. They are also prohibited from being implanted into a human or animal uterus.
This approach avoids ethical controversies associated with the use of embryonic stem cells, which are usually obtained from non-viable embryos after failed IVF.
While there are already examples of successful creation of healthy mice from stem cells, critics fear that further research could lead to the automation of human reproduction, including the use of artificial embryos and machines to support premature babies.