China has sent ‘artificial human embryos’ into space in a unique experiment, aiming to learn more about how microgravity affects human reproduction and pave the way for the development of ‘space babies’ in the future.
With this milestone, China has also become the first country to even conduct such a historic experiment. If this proves successful, the implications could be greater as Beijing is also looking to establish self-sustaining colonies on the moon and Mars.
According to government officials, these embryo-like structures are made from living human stem cells. They were sent into orbit as part of the Tianzhou-10 resupply mission, arriving at the Tiangong space station in the early hours of May 11.
The aim of the experiment, conducted by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is to find out the effects of microgravity on early human embryonic development.
“This is not a real human embryo and does not have the ability to develop into an individual,” said Leqian Yu, a researcher at the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) who led the experiment.
“However, it can serve as a model for studying early human development.”
During the experimental phase, the researchers will study two different types of embryo stages. The first stage consists of a pre-implantation model that resembles the uterine wall where embryos would attach.
The second phase involves a peri-gastrulation model, replicating the process by which cells reorganize into tissue and organ layers.
For a robust comparison, the researchers also cultured and frozen identical artificial embryos on Earth as a control group.
“We hope that by comparing the development of space and soil samples, we can identify the factors that influence early human embryonic growth in the space environment, and address the risks and challenges that humans may face during long-term habitation in space,” Yu said.
The idea of enabling human reproduction in space is not new. The concept is gaining momentum as tech giants like Elon Musk and companies look to expand human civilization beyond Earth.
In March, scientists from the University of Adelaide tested human and mouse sperm in simulated space conditions to find out whether sperm would have difficulty ‘navigating’ during sex in space.
According to findings published in the journal Communications Biology, some sperm cells showed resilience while navigating the challenging conditions, raising hopes of fathering children in space.
But the study also faced significant challenges, marked by a 30 percent drop in successful conception rates. Because without Earth’s gravity, embryo development began to lose quality.
The study found that protecting embryos from weightlessness during the “critical first hours” will be essential for successful reproduction on the moon or Mars.
