(dr) Xinhua
The Chinese space station Tiangong-1
The experiment aims to simulate how real embryos are affected by microgravity conditions in Space.
China has launched a groundbreaking experiment aboard its Tiangong Space Station, aiming to understand how human reproduction and early embryonic development can be achieved. affected by spatial conditions. This is the first known study of artificial models of human embryos carried out in orbit.
The experiment, carried out aboard the Tianzhou-10 resupply mission, involves embryo-like structures created from human stem cells. Although the structures are not real human embryos, scientists say they closely mimic the early stages of human development and provide an important model for studying reproduction in microgravity.
The researchers plan to grow the artificial embryos in space for five days before freeze for later analysis and comparison with identical samples maintained on Earth. During their stay aboard the station, the structures are being grown in uterine cells or inside specialized microfluidic chips, designed to simulate aspects of the human body.
According to writes, the project is being led by Yu Leqianfrom the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. According to Yu, the study aims to identify the biological factors that influence embryonic development in space and help scientists better understand the risks that humans may face during long-duration missions.
“We hope that by comparing the development of space and ground-based samples, we can identify factors that affect development early human embryo in the space environment,” Yu Leqian said in a statement.
The investigation reflects growing international interest in whether humans could eventually reproduce safely during long-term space travel or future colonization missions to the Moon or Mars. Although astronauts have already spent long periods aboard space stations, scientists still know relatively little about how microgravity and cosmic radiation affect fertility, pregnancy and early development.
Previous experiments have produced mixed results. Studies have shown that human and animal sperm can become disoriented in microgravitywhich can reduce fertility. Other research found that jellyfish raised in space had serious balance problems after returning to Earth.
At the same time, some experiments have offered encouraging results. Mouse sperm stored aboard the International Space Station was later used to generate healthy offspring on Earthwhile mouse embryos grown in orbit successfully developed to the blastocyst stage, an early stage of embryonic development.
Scientists warn that the Chinese experiment is still in the initial research phase, and does not represent a step towards human pregnancy in space.
