Scientists in Philadelphia have created and used an artificial womb to successfully grow eight lambs with the technology.
- Artificial womb helped lamb fetuses develop over time
- Womb could eventually be used for premature babies
- Research conducted at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
The giant Ziploc bag-looking thing has developed lamb fetuses the same way they would grow in their mother's womb. It's called a Biobag.
The study was conducted at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the results were published in a report in the journal Nature Communications.
According to the report, the fetuses were surgically removed from their mothers at about 105 days after gestation and placed in the bag. This stage of development is comparable to a human baby at about 23 weeks.
While inside, the lambs developed lungs and other organs normally. They were also able to move and open their eyes.
They were later successfully "delivered" from the bag.
This type of technology could eventually be used to treat extremely premature human babies as early as 23 weeks. A premature baby is given about a 50 percent chance of survival if birthed at about 23 weeks.
Scientists, however, said it will take time because humans develop very differently than lambs. They did say the achievement is an encouraging step.