UK scientists develop human embryo model with a brain and beating heart

In a big medical achievement, a team of UK researchers have developed a human embryo model that has its own beating heart and brain.

The scientific breakthrough comes after scientists reported development of a “synthetic” embryo with brain and beating heart, without the help of human eggs or sperm.

The recent study, conducted in the University of Cambridge, used human stem cells to create synthetic structures, which replicates cells seen in the third and fourth week of pregnancy. As per the research, the results can be used to better understand the effects of genetic abnormalities and the reasons for repeated miscarriages.


The research was presented at the International Society for Stem Cell Research's annual meeting in Boston, US. Although, it hasn’t been published yet as a preprint or a peer-reviewed journal paper.

The synthetic structures were developed without the need of eggs, sperm, or fertilisation using human stem cells. It had a beating heart, which a normal embryo normally develops by day 23. According to the Guardian, the model also displayed traces of blood, which would typically occur in the fourth week of pregnancy.

Though the embryo lacked the tissues that would eventually develop into a natural embryo's yolk sac and placenta.

"I'd like to emphasise that these are neither embryos nor are we trying to make embryos actually," Dr Jitesh Neupane, of the University of Cambridge's Gurdon Institute, was quoted as saying.

"They are just models that could be used to look into specific aspects of human development," he added.

According to Neupane, the first glimpse of the beating heart cells under the microscope was a profound experience.

"It was overwhelming for me. People get emotional when you see the heartbeat," he told the Guardian.

"I randomly took my plate under the microscope and when I saw the (heartbeat) for the first time I was scared, honestly. I had to look down and look back again.”

The researchers grew the embryonic stem cells in culture and then transferred it into a rotating bottle that acted as an artificial uterus.

The structures lacked the beginnings of a brain and since they did not have the placenta and yolk sac precursors, which are crucial for guiding development, they began to diverge from the natural development path over time, the report said.

"At the later time points they don't have all the features of embryos," Neupane said. "It would be dangerous to compare them directly to in vivo embryos.

" The report said that the findings could also be used to screen the effect of drugs on embryos and study the link between gestational diabetes and heart defects in babies.

(With inputs from IANS)