Can a man really implant an artificial uterus?

Recently, American researchers announced that they had developed the world's first "artificial uterus", which made it possible for human embryos to grow and develop outside their mothers' bodies.

1, "artificial uterus" was successfully tested within the restricted period.

The research on "artificial uterus" in the world is mainly concentrated in the United States, Japan and Taiwan Province Province. Dr. Liu Hongqing, the research center of reproductive medicine and infertility of Cornell University, recently presided over an experimental project, which successfully cultivated an embryo in an artificial uterus for the first time and made it develop healthily for 6 days. Dr. Liu first extracted some cells from women's endometrium and put them into a framework that simulated the internal shape of the uterus. This frame is made of biodegradable materials. Cells reproduce and grow in the framework, and the framework also forms tissues with the evolution of cells. At this time, hormones and other nutrients are injected to form an artificial uterus. Finally, Dr. Liu implanted a small number of embryos into this artificial uterus, and the embryos immediately implanted and grew in it. However, due to the restriction of in vitro fertilization regulations in the United States, this experiment had to be terminated six days after the embryo was implanted into the artificial uterus. However, Dr. Liu now intends to continue this experiment with mice and dogs, and let the embryo grow in the uterus for 14 days, which is the maximum number of days stipulated by the in vitro fertilization regulations in the United States. In this way, we can observe whether the embryo can grow the original placenta in the artificial uterus. If this experiment is successful, Dr. Liu will ask the US government to amend the in vitro fertilization regulations and extend the maximum period of in vitro fertilization.

Dr. Liu's experiment is mainly to help women who can't get pregnant because their uterus is destroyed. The cells of the artificial uterus should be extracted from the female endometrium, and there should be no rejection. A similar experiment conducted by Jason Sangyuan of Kyoto University is to help those women who have habitual abortion or premature delivery, so that the fetus who leaves the uterus prematurely has a safe environment for development and growth. Jason moved the goat fetus into a glass container, filled with amniotic fluid at the same temperature as the body temperature, and then connected its umbilical cord with a small machine, which not only provided nutrition, but also eliminated waste. This sheep fetus survived in this glass container for 18 days. But Liu Hongqing said: "We are still far from the real artificial uterus, and there are still many problems to be solved." The initial results of their research from the perspective of helping patients were hyped by the media as "men can get pregnant" and "men don't need women", which really went against their original intention. However, this is a big breakthrough after all. If we think further, we may even let women complete the mission of pregnancy.

2. Men can be mothers and children can be customized.

Although the use of "artificial uterus" to conceive life is not a simple process and full of risks, the research results clearly show that the complete "artificial uterus" made by new technology can solve such a fundamental problem, and those women who are infertile or prone to abortion after pregnancy can finally get rid of reproductive problems and have their own babies.

From another perspective, the future "artificial uterus" can also make men pregnant. In the future, we may see a pregnant husband in the street, and we may also hear children holding men and affectionately calling "Mom". The technical problem of men having children has been solved. One of the solutions is to install an "artificial uterus" on the man's abdominal cavity, and then inject the liquid indispensable for life. When the sperm and eggs obtained by the couple are artificially inseminated to form embryos, they can be implanted into the man's "artificial uterus" and finally give birth to a baby by caesarean section. Another method is male peritoneal pregnancy. The embryo developed in the test tube is implanted into the omentum adipose tissue near the male intestine, and a certain dose of estrogen is injected every once in a while to make its state in the body similar to that of ordinary pregnant women, so that the embryo can develop successfully. Scientists have a bolder idea. In the future, they can develop an "artificial uterus" that is divorced from the human body and establish an "artificial uterus factory" similar to a "sperm bank". One day in the future, a couple who want to have children only need to ask a doctor to extract sperm and eggs from their own bodies and put them in a "workshop" of the "artificial uterus factory". June 5438+10 The pain of pregnancy will turn into a quiet wait, and they can get their own flesh and blood back. If this idea continues, we can find that if this technology is connected with mature human embryo cloning technology, future parents can choose the type of children according to their own needs, and then produce their children from one production line after another through "artificial uterus". People can take a somatic cell from any man or woman, clone a human embryo, and then put it into an "artificial uterus" to give birth to a perfect and healthy new human.

In this way, the process of pregnancy is completely mechanized, and the process of life is as simple as customizing an article. Even we can combine living things one by one, and then replace the defective parts with new ones like repairing cars.

3. "Artificial uterus" triggered a cluster bomb of science and ethics.

With the research fever of artificial uterus, a "fear of new technology" is spreading. Some media even claimed that Professor Liu Hongqing's breakthrough in the field of artificial uterus research will make it possible for men to carry on the family line and even make women disappear from this planet. Public opinion is worried about the legal, ethical and moral issues involved in "artificial uterus" technology. The technology of "artificial uterus" is indeed much more complicated than other forms of IVF and abdominal pregnancy.

Opponents first remind people that pregnant women are pregnant in October, and the baby grows and develops in the mother's womb, and at the same time has complicated emotional communication with the mother, which plays a vital role in the child's psychological and intellectual development in the future. However, it is difficult for a baby who grew up in an "artificial uterus" to form a close relationship with his mother. But the first surrogate mother in Britain? Cotton denied this view, saying, "There is nothing to worry about in a relationship. When adopting a child, once the adoption relationship is established, the woman will immediately have all the instincts of the mother. " Opponents also believe that "artificial uterus" technology will be abused by people, causing a series of social problems. For example, people can use this technology to avoid natural childbirth, and the concept of marriage will gradually become indifferent. In addition, if artificial uterus is combined with modern cloning technology, gay "couples" will see their hope of "having children", which will undoubtedly anger some people.

An idea that has been speculated for 20 years, scientists have been developing the idea of "artificial uterus" for nearly 20 years. As early as 1993, the British Times reported that Mark? After 10 years of experimental research, the research team led by Professor Hansen of Tokyo University and Dr. Jiro Kojima developed a system to simulate the uterine environment of premature infants. Scientists use goats to test this "artificial uterus", which can make more premature babies survive. At that time, it was reported that the system was expected to be put into clinical use within five years. Since then, "artificial uterus" has become a fertile ground for scientists to explore, and the media in various countries have also launched a round of hot speculation. According to the British Sunday Telegraph 1998, Robert, medical director of Harley Street Reproductive Medicine Center in London, was quoted as saying. Furman's words predict that within 25 years, couples who can't have children or have no time to have children will be able to conceive fetuses in artificial uterus, and in vitro development will become a reality. In 2000, Scientific American magazine published a special issue called "Our Future Bionics", which predicted the possible biological innovation from 20 10 to 2020, and also mentioned the successful development of "artificial uterus". In predicting the three major breakthroughs in the future, American Futurist magazine pointed out that couples can have children with the help of "artificial uterus" as long as they provide sperm and eggs, and the "artificial uterus" that can accommodate human embryos can make women's pain during pregnancy and childbirth become history.

Comment: There should be no restrictions on the government. The development of this science will relieve the pain of women's childbirth, which is the first step to establish the kingdom of heaven.