Israeli scientists were able to grow more than 1,000 live mouse embryos outside of a living womb. Though the process was begun in a living mouse, the embryos were moved to the mechanical womb after fertilization.
Unfortunately, the current systems nutrient solution can only sustain the embryos for eleven days (half way through a normal mouse pregnancy) before they die. In order for the research to move closer to be able to carry an embryo to full term will be to create an artificial umbilical cord that would be able to provide the embryo with a blood supply.
The intent of building the artificial womb is for the researchers to be able to study genetic mutations and how environmental factors can affect a fetus while inside a womb.
Previous artificial wombs (EVE and Biobag) have been developed to assist late term lamb fetuses survive to term, but not embryos. The EVE and Biobag experiments have been used to support fetuses for up to five days, but the researchers claim that their tech could support a lamb fetus for up to 28 days.
SOURCES:
ENGADGET.com - This mouse embryo grew in an artificial uterus (2021)
GIZMODO.com - Artificial Wombs Are Getting Better and Better (2019)
WIKIPEDIA.org - Artificial Womb
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