Japan Approves First Human-Animal Embryo Experiments

• 07.29.2019, 18:30
•  Asia,  World,  No-politics

popularmechanics.com

The Japanese government is granting its support to a scientist working to create animal embryos that contain human cells, and to then subsequently transplant them into surrogate animals. The decision reverses one made earlier this year, which banned the procedure, Popular Mechanics reports.

Scientist Hiromitsu Nakauchi wants to create a human pancreas in rodents like rats and mice, and the Japanese government, specifically its education and science ministry, has issued new guidelines that open up the procedures to anyone. While Nakauchi isn't the only scientist involved, he does lead the project.

"Finally, we are in a position to start serious studies in this field after 10 years of preparation," he was quoted as saying in the Asahi Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper. "We don’t expect to create human organs immediately, but this allows us to advance our research based upon the know-how we have gained up to this point."