What's happening?

In the first stages of your existence, you were an embryoA fertilised egg that is developing into a foetus.. The moment that an egg is fertilised by sperm, it becomes an embryo. Later it turns into a foetusAn unborn human or animal in the later stages of its development, but before birth. , which grows inside the mother until a baby is born.

Now, for the first time ever, scientists have made a replicaAn exact copy or model of something. of an embryo without using an egg or sperm.

Scientists hope they can use this research to find out why some people struggle to have babies, and figure out how our bodies work. However, some people are worried about whether it is the right thing to do.

The replicas cannot grow into real babies yet, but they can help us learn more about how babies grow and find new ways to help people who cannot have babies naturally.

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People have different opinions about this. Some think it is a wonderful thing that could save lives. Others are concerned about whether it is okay to make embyros in a lab.

One big worry is that if we can make these replica embryos, they might be treated like things we buy and sell. It also raises the question: When does an embryo really start becoming a person?

But scientists explain that these lab-made embryos cannot become real babies - they would not be able to grow in a wombAlso known as the uterus. The organ in which a baby is carried during pregnancy. .

Yes! The research raises hard questions about when embryos are thought to be human. And in the future, the technology could be used to do things which are morally wrong.

No! Creating replica embryos could help lots of people live healthier, happier lives. It would be wrong not to do this research.