Mini-organs were previously derived from adult stem cells or foetal tissue after an abortion. Researchers at University College London and Great Ormond Street in the UK believe this advance could ...

This microscope image provided by researchers in March 2024 shows a kidney organoid resembling renal tubules, created from cells collected from amniotic fluid. (Giuseppe Calà, Paolo De Coppi ...

“Mini organs” have been grown for the first time using human stem cells taken during pregnancy, potentially leading to advances in prenatal medicine. The study means human development can be ...

Previously, mini-organs have been derived from adult stem cells, which more closely resemble adult tissue, or fetal tissue after an abortion. Collecting cells from amniotic fluid gets around ...

And since growing mini-organs from cells in amniotic fluid takes about 4 to 6 weeks, Gerli said, there’s enough time for prenatal therapy to fix problems doctors might find.

This method centers around the concept of three-dimensional mini-organs called organoids. These organoids are grown from human stem cells and can be programmed to resemble fetal-like tissues.

The duo created stem cells in a lab by applying four transcription factors to the mature skin cells of mice. Transcription factors are the molecules that play a role in regulating gene expression.

Scientists have created miniorgans from cells floating in the fluid that surrounds a fetus in the womb – an advance they believe could open up new areas of prenatal medicine.