Australian government issued the world’s first license for human embryo cloning. The cloning process will be performed by local in vitro fertilization company Sydney IVF. At the present moment, though, the license allows only development of early-stage embryos, known as therapeutic cloning, since embryo implantation into the womb is restricted by law. During the cloning process the scientists are going to use somatic cell nuclear transfer technique, in which nucleus of a donor somatic cell is removed, and then replaced with a nucleus containing required DNA information. It is to be recalled that the same technique was used when cloning Dolly in 1996. Full story

A new device silicone womb is being currently tested in Great Britain. It’s going to make in-vitro fertilization much more effective, than it has been before. The goal of the silicone womb is to develop stronger, more resilient embryos for eventual pregnancy. The silicone womb holds test-tube embryos, which are currently developed in an incubator, inside the womb to expose them to more natural conditions. It allows them to be implanted inside the mother for up to four days. During this time they are exposed to the uterus through 360 holes each around 40-micron across. Full story