Biologists have created the youngest cells in the human body in a test tube

An international team of researchers has developed a technology that makes it possible to obtain embryonic

cells at the eight-cell stage.It is at this stage that the zygotic genome is activated, scientists note. In their work, they exposed stem cells to a “cocktail” of various chemicals.

After fertilization, the gene in the zygote is activated,which initiates the short-term transformation of cells into totipotent ones. They can form both tissues and internal organs, as well as extra-embryonic elements - the placenta and yolk. During cell division, zygotes lose this property.

“The resulting cells recreate the embryonicthe state of a fertilized egg after only three divisions. They can not only differentiate into placental tissue, but also potentially develop into more mature organs, ”the authors of the study said.

To test the ability of the resulting cells toFurther development, scientists injected eight-cell zygotes into mice and monitored the development of the embryo. The results showed that such cells retain the ability to form embryonic and extraembryonic structures both in vitro and in vivo.

Scientists note that although conversion methodsStem cells into elements of the early stages of embryonic development existed before; so far no one has been able to obtain cells at the stage of zygote fragmentation. The created technology will help study the process of human embryonic development.

Researchers believe that the new technologymake individual transplantation a reality. Organ transplants now require finding a suitable donor. At the same time, if the serotype of the donor is too different from the serotype of the recipient, transplanted organs may be rejected. The technology developed by scientists in the future will make it possible to grow organs and tissues for transplantation based on the patient's own stem cells.

"These cells can be used to regeneratehuman organs, which will reduce the dependence of medicine on donor organs, scientists add. “In addition, they will be useful for the study of embryos, help in the treatment of diseases that occur in the early stages of development, as well as in the prevention of miscarriages.”

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