Scientists create human embryo with a heartbeat without using sperm or eggs
Scientists have created a model human embryo to study the first weeks of life, complete with a heartbeat and traces of blood. The synthetic embryo was created with human stem cells and did not require sperm, eggs or fertilisation. It mimics the structure that occurs during the first month of pregnancy. Yet, scientists ensured it was designed to not form a foetus. Researchers involved in the extraordinary project discovered that the model had early stages of developing a brain and beating heart cells, which generally develop after 23 days in a human embryo. It was achieved through embryonic stem cells, which are 'blank' cells from a human embryo. Scientists grew the model in a lab before transferring it to a rotating bottle to act as an artificial uterus, The Guardian reported. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Scientists hope the findings will help them understand more about the impact of genetic disorders and miscarriage. Dr Jitesh Neupane, of the University of Cambridge’s Gurdon Institute, told the publication: "I randomly took my plate under the microscope and when I saw the [heartbeat] for the first time I was scared, honestly. I had to look down and look back again. "It was overwhelming for me. People get emotional when you see the heartbeat." He went on to emphasise that the model is "neither embryos nor are [they] trying to make embryos actually." "They are just models that could be used to look into specific aspects of human development," he continued. The findings are yet to be published in either a preprint or a journal paper. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-06-19 17:22
Netherlands media guide
An overview of the media in the Netherlands, including links to broadcasters and newspapers.
2023-06-19 17:20
Netherlands country profile
Provides an overview of the Netherlands, including key dates and facts about this European country.
2023-06-19 17:17
Children's book author Kouri Richins sues dead husband’s estate while awaiting trial for his murder
Kouri and her late husband Eric Richins had reportedly signed a prenup in June 2013
2023-06-19 17:15
Death toll rises amid sweltering heat wave in 2 of India's most populous states
Nearly 170 people have died in two of India’s most populous states in recent days amid a sweltering heat wave, as hospitals are overwhelmed with patients and routine power outages add to the challenges
2023-06-19 16:59
Wrexham AFC stadium suffers ‘structural damage’ after torrential rain
Thunderstorms and heavy rain have caused flooding in Wrexham, leading to some “structural damage” to the Racecourse Ground, home of Wrexham AFC. A hospitality suite on Sunday 18 June was cleared of diners enjoying a Father’s Day meal due to the flooding. “Wrexham AFC can confirm the 1864 Suite was evacuated during the third sitting of today’s Father’s Day meals at the Racecourse Ground,” the statement read. “In the wake of the torrential rain that hit the region late this afternoon, some structural damage has resulted in a large leak inside the Macron Stand reception area.” The statement added that all diners were safely evacuated. Read More Moment Rob Burrow and his children cross finish line of Father’s Day fun run Wyndham Clark knows he made late mother ‘proud’ with US Open win Dias ‘threw up’ in Grealish’s mother’s bag during treble celebrations, Ederson says
2023-06-19 16:57
Trainwrecks drops hints at future Kick signings after xQc and Amouranth move: 'There are couple of male streamers'
What did Trainwrecks specifically mention about these upcoming streamers? Did he disclose any names?
2023-06-19 16:53
Thais justify talks with Myanmar as key ASEAN members stay away
BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand on Monday justified hosting talks aimed at re-engaging with Myanmar's shunned military, saying dialogue was necessary to
2023-06-19 16:53
Severe storms and record-breaking heat is possible in parts of the South today as hundreds of thousands are without power
More than 50 million people across the Southeast face the threat of severe storms on Monday as widespread power outages have left nearly half a million across the South in the dark, including some sweltering under record-breaking temperatures.
2023-06-19 16:48
Who was Eva Liu? Illinois woman, 21, who died after being pushed into gorge had just got a job at Microsoft
Eva Liu was at the Neuschwanstein Castle in Schwangau on June 14, when a 30-year-old man tried to sexually assault her and pushed her into the gorge
2023-06-19 16:47
London Home Asking Prices Slide as Surging Rates Stretch Buyers
Homesellers in London cut prices more than any UK region in June as surging borrowing costs stretched affordability
2023-06-19 16:46
Vegan landlady roasted for banning tenants from cooking meat and fish in their own home
A landlady has been accused of “outrageous” and “control freakish” behaviour for setting unusually harsh restrictions for prospective tenants. The homeowner used an estate agent to advertise her two “spacious, sun-drenched” apartments in Brooklyn, New York, which were valued at $4,500 (£3,580) and $5,750 (£4,490) per month. When you’re charging such eye-watering rates, you’d hope these flats – with “spectacular outdoor spaces” – would be pretty exceptional homes. And yet, for many interested parties, the dream was shattered when they spotted that the “wonderful vegan landlord” had one eye-catching house rule: “No meat/fish in the building." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Andrea Kelly, the agent managing the flat, explained to the New York Times (NYT) why the landlady had made such a strict stipulation. She told the paper that the apartments weren’t, technically, “vegetarian-only,” but added that “the owner lives in the building and doesn’t want the smell of cooking meat drifting upstairs.” To be fair, this means that tenants could enjoy the likes of sushi, ham sandwiches and even meaty takeaways without causing a scene. But woe betide anyone harbouring hopes of a Sunday roast or sausages barbecued in their “spectacular outdoor space”. The owner, Michal Arieh Lerer, refused to speak to a NYT reporter about her controversial regulation, but her ex-husband, who co-owns the building and is also vegan, admitted that they’d refused to rent their property out to keen carnivorous cooks since they bought it in 2007. “It’s not about discrimination,” ex-husband Motti Lerer insisted. “You have to fit into the building.” For anyone wondering whether this could legally be classed as discrimination, the answer is, perhaps surprisingly, no. New York’s Human Rights Law lists 14 characteristics that landlords must not consider when choosing a potential tenant. These include age, race, family status, and sexual orientation – there's no mention of dietary preferences. Lucas A. Ferrara, an adjunct professor at New York Law School told the NYT that an interested renter might be able to fight the meat ban if they could prove that they had a medical condition which required some sort of “reasonable accommodation” on the landlord’s part. Still, we’re not familiar with many illnesses whose sufferer needs to regularly fry steaks or grill fish as a matter of urgency. The original listing which caused such a stir was taken down from nextdoor.com on Friday, a day after it was posted. However, the apartments are still listed on the estate agent’s own site, although there’s no mention of the cooked veg-only policy. The listings do note: “Cats welcome on a case-by-case basis (only one, please).” We just hope those felines are happy to forgo mouse hunts or particularly pungent meal pouches, for their sake. Social media commentators have shared their horror at the meat-free rule, with a number suggesting Lerer "shouldn't be a landlord". One Facebook user wrote: "[She] can’t just tell people they can’t cook meat in a home they rent off [her]. It’s like telling a kid they can not play with toys." Another said: "Well I hope they/them enjoy paying the mortgage when they get no tenants." But a third suggested tenants should just find a way around the restrictions. "[Her] property, [her] rules," they pointed out, before adding: "If you lie to [her] and cook meat while [she] doesn't get to know then it's a win-win situation." Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-06-19 16:27
