In 2023, Japanese scientists successfully grew mouse embryos on the International Space Station (ISS) for the first time. The embryos were frozen and transported to the ISS on a SpaceX rocket, then thawed and grown by astronauts using a special device. The embryos developed normally, and the DNA and genes in the blastocysts that were returned to Earth showed no significant changes. This study suggests that it may be possible for humans to reproduce in space.
An embryo is the early stage of development for a multicellular organism, such as a human, animal, or plant. The embryo stage lasts until the end of the seventh week after conception. After that, the unborn child is called a fetus. |