Right now, scientists are able to nurture embryos conceived through in vitro fertilization for almost 14 days. The 1999 movie "The Matrix" featured a network of biobags with fetuses growing inside.
A fixture of science fiction, ectogenesis is the growing of an embryo or fetus outside the mother's body. Biobags could also save extremely premature babies from dying or suffering brain damage, lung disease and other serious conditions. That would allow the baby to continue developing as peacefully as it would in its mother's womb. Instead of using mechanical ventilation and other equipment to salvage those born much too early, nurses in neonatal units could put the premature babies in bags mimicking the pre-birth environment. The biobag's developers say their only goal is to help premature babies thrive. It's just a matter of time before the artificial womb is ready to gestate a human fetus. A tube going into the bag supplies the fluid, and another tube drains it.Īrtificial wombs have been used to bring lambs to full term outside the mama sheep's belly. We speak of the artificial womb.Īlso called a biobag, an artificial womb is a big plastic sack filled with synthetic amniotic fluid. It may also sweep away the current controversy over abortion while creating new ethical dilemmas.
A new medical device may change almost everything we think about making babies.
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