Mouse embryos grown in space for first time: Japan researchers

Astronauts thawed the early-stage embryos using a special device designed for this purpose and grew them on the station for four days. - PHOTO: REUTERS

TOKYO (AFP): Mouse embryos have been grown on the International Space Station and developed normally in the first study indicating it could be possible for humans to reproduce in space, a group of Japanese scientists said.

The researchers, including Teruhiko Wakayama, professor of University of Yamanashi's Advanced Biotechnology Centre, and a team from the Japan Aerospace Space Agency (JAXA), sent frozen mouse embryos on board a rocket to the ISS in August 2021.