Previously, scientists have successfully kept premature lambs alive for weeks using an artificial womb that looks like a plastic bag.
The 'biobag' provided everything the foetus needed to continue growing and maturing, including a nutrient–rich blood supply and a protective sac of amniotic fluid
After 28 days of being in the bag, the lambs – which otherwise would likely have died – had put on weight and grown wool.
This makes the claim more credible. If they're just refining an existing development and not jumping straight to humans then it's not throwing up the same red flags as either fraudulent or negligent.
Yeah this is still a long ways off to be used for human trials. A womb isn't just a sack of nutrients, there's constant signaling back and forth that causes minute changes in nutrient flow and chemistry. It's why it's been so difficult to develop an artificial womb.
And it's one thing to grow a lamb (that was already partially developed) to full term. Sure it's a live, but is it healthy? How does its development into an adult compare to regular lambs? Will the lifespan be comparable? How about the quality of life?
This is more like a future method of helping babies born prematurely not face a lifetime of permanent defects due to a sub-optimal development. They can be put in this artificial womb to grow better than the current methods we have. Which is absolutely a good thing, but this is years off and even more years off when it comes to completely replacing natural wombs.
This makes the claim more credible. If they're just refining an existing development and not jumping straight to humans then it's not throwing up the same red flags as either fraudulent or negligent.
Its missing the movement and sounds.. everyday interaction the mother has probably leaves some kinda imprint on the fetus while still in the womb.
A goal is to remove the nurturing and create emotionless slaves, organ donors, or super autistic beings to supplement AI
Yeah this is still a long ways off to be used for human trials. A womb isn't just a sack of nutrients, there's constant signaling back and forth that causes minute changes in nutrient flow and chemistry. It's why it's been so difficult to develop an artificial womb.
And it's one thing to grow a lamb (that was already partially developed) to full term. Sure it's a live, but is it healthy? How does its development into an adult compare to regular lambs? Will the lifespan be comparable? How about the quality of life?
This is more like a future method of helping babies born prematurely not face a lifetime of permanent defects due to a sub-optimal development. They can be put in this artificial womb to grow better than the current methods we have. Which is absolutely a good thing, but this is years off and even more years off when it comes to completely replacing natural wombs.