Life in Space: Scientists develop embryo among stars in planet colonisation breakthrough

Two-celled mouse embryos fully developed in space

A research team from China concluded that mammalian embryos are able to grow in space after it was feared that it would not be possible.

In early April, China launched a microgravity satellite named SJ-10 into the atmosphere which carried 6,000 mouse embryos inside a compartment about the size of a microwave oven.


A mouse

The container was fitted with devices to feed the embryos nutrients in order to thrive and a microscopic camera to capture images of them developing.

Now the team claim to have received the images and some of the two-cell embryos have completely developed into blastocysts – which is the stage in its life where it implants into the wall of the uterus.

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