Embryo. British biologists have created the first artificial placenta Situational tasks in embryology

SITUATIONAL TASKS IN EMBRYOLOGY

At the lesson, students discuss the importance of extra-embryonic organs in human embryonic development and, in particular, the yolk sac. It is known that in evolution the yolk sac performed a trophic function. In humans, it contains a very small amount of yolk. why? Discuss the situation by answering the following questions

What extra-embryonic organs are formed in human embryogenesis

The function of the yolk sac in fish and birds

What structures (cells) form the human yolk sac

Why does the human yolk sac lose its trophic function

What is the function of the yolk sac in humans?

During the report at the conference on the topic “Stages of human embryonic development”, students discuss the following issues. answer them too

Fertilization (3 phases)

Cleavage type and blastocyst formation

Types of gastrulation in humans and the formation of germ layers and axial organs

Histogenesis and organogenesis

Systemogenesis

In an experiment on an animal, the source of development of the adrenal medulla was damaged. Questions arose during the discussion. answer them too

What germ layers result from gastrulation?

During what process does this source appear?

What germ layer gives rise to the development of this source

From what part of the ectoderm does this source develop?

What is the name of the part of the ectoderm that goes to the development of the source

Premature abruption of the placenta occurred, resulting in the death of the fetus. what is the reason? Answer questions as you discuss the situation.

What extra-embryonic organs develop in humans during embryogenesis

Which organ provides communication between the fetus and the mother's body?

What type of placenta does a person have

What two parts of the chorion are formed in humans

What is the cause of premature placental abruption?

5. When discussing the topic "Sex cells", questions arose about the classification of eggs. answer them too

What is the name of the period in which the formation of eggs occurs

What is characteristic of the oocyte

How are eggs classified according to the amount of yolk

How are eggs classified according to the location of the yolk?

What conditions determine the amount of yolk in the cytoplasm of the egg

6. During the inflammatory process, the blastocyst was in the fallopian tube on the 7th day of embryogenesis. Discuss the outcome of the pregnancy as you answer the following questions

The structure of the blastocyst (5-6 days)

Stages of implantation

What changes occur in the blastocyst on the 7th day

What can happen to the blastocyst in the fallopian tube after the seventh day

What is the outcome of pregnancy

7. During the lesson, students discuss the period of embryonic development, when cells begin to separate and specialize when certain genes are active. The following questions arose. answer them too

What is the name of this period

What are the 4 stages here

At what stage do unequal blastomeres appear

When do germ layers appear

At what stage do the rudiments of different tissues appear?

8. At what stage of embryogenesis and how (methods) does the embryo become multilayered. Discuss this in the course of answering the following questions.

What is the name of this stage and what is formed as a result of it

What methods exist in the lancelet and amphibians

How does gastrulation occur in humans?

What organs are formed in the human embryo between two stages of gastrulation

The timing of the formation of all 3 germ layers in the human embryo

9. During the autopsy of a woman who died during a car accident, an embryo in the form of a bubble was found in the uterus. what stage of development and what is the gestational age? Discuss the situation by answering the following questions

Stages of embryonic development and their essence

Type of human egg

The site of the sexual tract of fertilization

Type of crushing in humans and localization of the process

Human blastocyst (structure, place and time of formation after fertilization)

10. The fetus was born in the "shirt". What does it mean? What is this "shirt" made of? discuss the situation while answering the questions

Gastrulation in humans

Extra-embryonic human organs. Formation between gastrulation phases

Provisional organs formed after gastrulation in humans

amnion structure

Amnion value (obstetrician's actions if the fetus is born in a "shirt")

ANSWERS TO SITUATIONAL TASKS IN EMBRYOLOGY

In humans, extra-embryonic organs are formed in emryogenesis: amnion, yolk sac, chorion, allantois, placenta.

In fish and birds, the yolk sac performs trophic and hematopoietic functions.

In humans, the yolk sac is formed by extraembryonic endoderm and extraembryonic mesoderm (mesenchyme).

The yolk sac appears in the second week of development, and from the third week hemotrophic nutrition begins, so the yolk sac loses its trophic function.

The yolk sac is an organ that mainly performs the hematopoietic function and the formation of primary germ cells in humans.

There are three phases in fertilization.

Remote interaction. With the help of chemicals, the penetration of many spermatozoa into the egg is prevented.

Contact interaction - the cytoplasm of contacting gametes unites.

Penetration of the sperm into the cytoplasm of the egg, compaction of the peripheral part of the cytoplasm of the egg and the formation of the fertilization membrane.

Crushing is complete, uneven, asynchronous. Some blastomeres are large, dark, and slowly split. This is an embryoblast. It forms the body of the embryo and extra-embryonic organs, except for the trophoblast. The second type of blastomeres - small, light, rapidly dividing - is the trophoblast. After 50-60 hours, the crushing embryo takes the form of a dense ball - a morula. On the third day, a blastocyst begins to form, which is a hollow vesicle formed on the outside by the trophoblast and filled with liquid, with the embryoblast in the form of a bundle of cells, which is attached from the inside to the trophoblast at one pole of the blastocyst.

In humans, gastrulation occurs in two phases. As a result of delamination, two sheets are formed: the outer one is the epiblast (primary ectoderm) and the inner one is the hypoblast (primary endoderm). At the second stage, as a result of the formation of the primary streak and the immigration of cell masses, the mesoderm and notochord are formed. By the 17th day, 3 germ layers have been formed in the human embryo. On the 20th - 21st day, the notochord is finally formed, the neural tube (from the ectoderm), which closes by the 25th day. The intestinal tube is formed.

The formation of tissue rudiments occurs due to determination and commitment, differentiation, proliferation and cell death. Determination is a genetically programmed way of development of cells and tissues. At the stage of gastrulation, the cells are not sufficiently determined, so they are the source of the development of several tissues. Committing is a limitation possible ways cell development. Differentiation is a change in the structure of cells that is associated with their functional specialization, due to the activity of certain genes. In the process of differentiation, specialization of tissue rudiments and the formation of various kinds fabrics.

The rudiments of organs and systems are formed from tissues.

In humans, gastrulation occurs in two phases. As a result of delamination, two casts are formed: the outer one is the epiblast (primary ectoderm) and the inner one is the hypoblast (primary endoderm). At the second stage, as a result of the formation of the primary streak and the immigration of cell masses, the mesoderm and notochord are formed.

The source arises in the process of differentiation.

primary ectoderm.

germinal ectoderm.

The beginnings of the sympathetic ganglia.

4.1. In humans, during embryogenesis, extra-embryonic organs Key words: amnion, yolk sac, chorion, allantois, placenta.

4.2. The connection of the embryo with the mother's body is provided by the placenta.

4.3. The human placenta is hemochorial discoidal villous.

4.4. There is a branched chorion, the villi of which grow strongly and branch. Smooth chorion - no villi. It is located in the region of the parietal and bag parts of the falling off shell.

4.5. At the border of the smooth and branched chorion, part of the main falling off membrane along the edge of the placental disc adheres tightly to the chorion and does not collapse, forming the endplate. In case of violation of the formation of this plate, blood from the lacunae with maternal blood expires and the placenta exfoliates.

The process of development and maturation of eggs is called progenesis.

Egg cells are characterized by the presence of yolk, which is a protein-lipid complex. This inclusion is located in the cytoplasm and is used to nourish the embryo.

By the amount of yolk, yolkless (alecital) are distinguished. Small yolk (oligolecital). Among them, primary (in the lancelet) and secondary (in placental mammals and humans) are distinguished. Polylecithal (multi-yolk) (in birds).

In small-yolk eggs, the yolk granules are evenly distributed - they are called isolecithal. In polylecithal eggs, the yolk is often located at one pole. Such eggs are called telolecithal. Among them, moderately telolecithal (mesolecithal in amphibians) and sharply telolecital (in birds) are distinguished. If the yolk is in the center of the cell, then the cells are called centrolecithal.

The amount of yolk in the egg depends on the conditions of development (in the external or internal environment) and the duration of development. In humans, a small amount of yolk is explained by the fact that the development of the embryo occurs in the mother's body and nutrition is carried out at the expense of the mother through the placenta.

On the fifth day, the blastocyst enters the uterus and settles freely in it. First, the blastocyst looks like a hollow vesicle, which is formed from the outside by the trophoblast and the embryoblast in the form of a knot attached to the trophoblast from the inside. The bubble is filled with liquid. From the fifth day in the trophoblast, the number of lysosomes increases, outgrowths of the trophoblast appear. The germinal nodule turns into the germinal shield. Preparations are underway for the first phase of gastrulation.

Two stages are distinguished in implantation: adhesion (sticking) and invasion (penetration). Two layers are formed on the resulting villi of the trophoblast: the inner cytotrophoblast and the outer one - the symplastotrophoblast, which produces proteolytic enzymes that melt the uterine mucosa. An implantation fossa appears in it, where the blastocyst penetrates.

On the 7th day, process cells, the extraembryonic mesoderm, are evicted from the germinal shield. It is involved in the formation of the amnion (together with the extraembryonic ectoderm), the yolk sac (together with the extraembryonic endoderm) and the chorion (together with the trophoblast).

Ready for implantation, the blastocyst can sink into the lining of the fallopian tube.

Rupture of the tube with intra-abdominal bleeding; surgery (tubectomy)

This stage is called germ layer differentiation.

There are 4 stages of differentiation:

Ootypic differentiation - at the stage of the zygote is represented by putative rudiments - areas of a fertilized egg.

Blastomeric differentiation at the blastula stage.

Rudimentary differentiation at the stage of early gastrula.

Histogenetic differentiation at the stage of late gastrula.

At the stage of blastomeric differentiation, unequal blastomeres appear (blastomeres of the roof, bottom ...).

The germ layers appear at the stage of early gastrulation.

The rudiments of different tissues appear at the stage of histogenetic differentiation. The rudiments of organs and systems begin to form from tissues.

8.1. The embryo becomes multilayered at the stage of gastrulation.

8.2. In the lancelet, gastrulation proceeds by invagination (invagination), while in amphibians it is mainly by epiboly (fouling) plus partial intussusception.

8.3. In humans, gastrulation occurs in two ways: delamination (splitting - two sheets are formed: the outer sheet is the epiblast (primary ectoderm) and the inner hypoblast (primary endoderm)). The second way is immigration (eviction, movement of cellular material).

8.4. Between the two stages of gastrulation, extra-embryonic organs are formed: amniotic and vitelline vesicles, chorion - organs that provide conditions for the development of the embryo.

8.5. By day 17, all 3 germ layers are formed in the embryo - ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm.

Fertilization is the formation of a single-celled organism - a zygote. As a result of crushing, the embryo becomes multicellular. Gastrulation is the formation of a multilayer embryo. Histogenesis, organogenesis and systemogenesis - tissues appear in the embryo, from the combination of which organs and systems are formed. The human body is formed.

Secondary isolecithal ovum

In the fallopian tubes

Complete, uneven, asynchronous. It starts in the fallopian tube and ends in the uterus.

Blastocyst is the germinal vesicle. At the stage of the early blastocyst (3-4 days), formed in the fallopian tube, the embryo enters the uterine cavity. There, the free blastocyst stage (5-6 days) is followed by implantation (6-7 days), which lasts 40 hours. In the blastocyst - outside the trophoblast (outer cell mass), inside - a cavity with liquid. At one pole of the vesicle is the embryoblast (internal cell mass) attached to the trophoblast. The gestation period is the end of the first week from fertilization (about 6 days).

Gastrulation in humans goes in two phases: phase 1 - delamination on the 7th day with the formation of epi- and hypoblast; Phase 2 on the 14th day (immigration). Three germ layers are formed in the embryo and the main organs (axial) are laid.

Amnion, yolk sac, chorion occur between two phases of gastrulation

After the second stage, allantois is formed and the placenta begins to form.

Composition of the amnion: extra-embryonic ectoderm and mesoderm (mesenchyme)

Amnion - a water shell - a hollow organ filled with fluid produced by its epithelium. The fetus develops in it, makes movements. Amnion protects the fetus from drying out and has the effects necessary for the formation of the digestive and respiratory organs. The fetus swallows amniotic fluid and excretes urine into it. The obstetrician opens the amnion for normal delivery (if he himself has not opened).

Intrauterine development after the formation of a child's place. After the formation of a new form of communication between two organisms - communication through the placenta, the living conditions of the embryo (respiration, nutrition, excretion of metabolic products) improve and its development accelerates. Intensive formation of organs begins.

The rudiments of the brain are formed already at the age of 3.5 weeks. In the next few days after this, the rudiments of ears and eyes appear. At the end of the 4th week, the size of the embryo is 5 mm (from the crown to the sacrum) and it is already possible to distinguish between the thoracic and abdominal parts of the body. In the 5th week, limbs begin to form. The size of a 5-week-old embryo is 8 mm, and a 6-week-old one is 10-12 mm.

The embryo, starting from the age of 8 weeks and until the end of intrauterine life, is commonly called a fetus. At the age of 5-6 months, the fetus is an already formed organism, but not yet prepared for independent life.

The location of the fetus in the uterus during these periods of pregnancy is shown in Fig. 5 and 6.

Rice. 5. Location of a five-month-old fetus in the uterus (scheme).

Rice. Fig. 6. Location of a six-month-old fetus in the uterus (photo from a museum specimen). The fetus is surrounded by amniotic fluid and a thin membrane. Some of the denser membranes and the anterior wall of the uterus have been removed.

In the middle of pregnancy, the mother begins to feel the movements of the fetus, but its weak movements, not felt by the mother, begin earlier.

As the muscular system of the fetus develops, its movements become more intense. Periodically there are movements in which the muscles of the whole body participate. The movements promote the blood circulation of the fetus. The fetus periodically makes and respiratory movements, but since they are not accompanied by the entry of air into the lungs, their significance is to prepare the respiratory system for activity that begins immediately after birth, and to improve the blood circulation of the fetus.

In the second half of pregnancy, the doctor can easily listen to the fetal heartbeat and register it in the same way as the fetal movement, using special devices. In large obstetric institutions, such devices are used to more fully characterize the vital activity of the fetus and to diagnose its deviations from the norm.

During pregnancy, especially in the second half, women's metabolism increases significantly, the amount of blood in the body increases by about 1 liter, the work of the heart (the amount of blood ejected per minute) increases by almost one and a half times, breathing deepens and quickens.

It is very important for the fetus how well the mother's body will cope with the necessary restructuring of life, which depends on general condition pregnant woman and the state of her regulatory systems: nervous and endocrine. Deviations from the norm during this restructuring are often expressed in violation of metabolic processes and activities of cardio-vascular system. Sometimes there are conditions that are called "toxemia of pregnancy." Raise blood pressure and metabolic disorders, characteristic of toxicosis of the second half of pregnancy, can have an adverse effect on the fetus. At severe forms diseases, this influence consists mainly in the fact that the fetus does not develop fast enough and can be born weakened. In addition, toxicosis sometimes causes premature birth.

Toxicosis of pregnant women can be successfully treated, especially if a woman went to the doctor when the first signs of the disease appeared. At timely treatment toxicosis, as well as other diseases of a pregnant woman, the condition of the fetus may not change or be disturbed for a short time.

Rice. 7. Comparison of the size of the girl's uterus (D) and the woman's uterus at the end of pregnancy.

However, the embryo and fetus, somewhat affected by maternal diseases and complications of pregnancy, have the ability to restore the normal state in the process of development. In the second half of the intrauterine period, the fetus, in addition, has sufficiently developed adaptive reactions. If the fetus lacks oxygen and nutrients, then its movements intensify, the heartbeat quickens, and the rate of blood flow through the placental vessels increases. This contributes to the fact that more of the substances needed by the fetus are extracted from the mother's blood.

By the end of fetal life, the contractions of the fetal heart become stronger, arterial pressure increases, metabolic processes intensify and the amount of nutrients and oxygen consumed by it also increases rapidly. The uterus increases significantly in size (Fig. 7). The weight of the uterus with the fetus, membranes and amniotic fluid reaches approximately 5 kg. It becomes more difficult for the mother to carry the fetus, fatigue occurs more easily. In this regard, pregnant women in the Soviet Union are given paid leave 56 days before delivery, which is important for the health of both the woman and the child.

Every woman who dreams of replenishment in the family, seeing the long-awaited two strips on the test, comes to an indescribable delight. Literally from the first days of pregnancy, she begins to take care of the unborn baby: she refuses to bad habits, dieting, reducing physical exercise. However, not all ladies delve into the intricacies of the development of a tiny organism, limiting themselves only to studying ultrasound images. Meanwhile, while in the womb, the fetus goes a long way before turning into a full-fledged little man. In this article, we will look at the difference between a fetus and an embryo.

Definitions

Fetus- a human body developing in the mother's womb after the laying of the main systems and organs. This term is used exclusively in relation to a child who has not yet been born. The considered period of development of the organism is called fetal and begins when it reaches 8-9 weeks of age. This stage is characterized by intensive growth, tissue differentiation, development of organs and systems, the end of the formation of fetal membranes and placenta. A 38 week old baby is considered full term. By this time, the fetus acquires signs of maturity: a length of 47 cm, a weight of 2500 g, a convex chest, pale pink skin without wrinkles, etc. Babies born between 28 and 37 weeks are considered premature, but at the same time quite viable. They require very careful care and sometimes for a long time are under the supervision of doctors. by the most effective method fetal diagnosis is recognized by ultrasound.

Embryo- a human embryo at the initial stage of its development until the moment of exit from the fetal membranes. During this stage, a body is formed from the egg, which has certain morphological features. This period lasts 8 weeks, after which the embryo is usually called a fetus. The embryo arises as a result of the fusion of the nuclei of the egg with the sperm. At the end of the third week of development, the embryo has a head and a primitive heart, and after a few more days it begins to pump blood through the body and placenta. In the process of embryo formation, limbs and eyes, ears and rudiments of teeth are formed in it, gradually decreases, and then the tail disappears altogether. By the end of the eighth week, the process of laying the main vital organs is almost completed.

Comparison

Both of these terms refer to a growing organism on different stages development. The embryo is called the embryo from the moment of conception and up to the 8th week of pregnancy. A microscopic body appears in a fetal egg, which is an oval or round formation a few millimeters in size. The yolk sac located inside it provides nutrition to the embryo. The fertilized egg increases in size along with the embryo. At the initial stage of formation, the embryo bears little resemblance to a person. It outwardly resembles a tiny twisted "worm" with a tail and without a pronounced head. Closer to 8-9 weeks, limbs, eyes are indicated in the embryo, the heart begins to beat and other vital organs form. The head becomes distinguishable, but disproportionately large in relation to the body. The maximum size of the embryo reaches only 3-4 cm, and the weight is about 5 g.

The main difference between the fetus and the embryo is the intrauterine age of development. As mentioned above, an organism that forms during the first eight weeks is called an embryo. Upon reaching this age, the embryo begins to be called a fetus. From now on, his nutrition is provided not by the yolk sac, but by the placenta - an organ located inside the uterus that communicates between the mother and the unborn baby. As he develops, he becomes more and more human-like. The body lengthens and acquires normal proportions, the limbs increase in size, the ears take their place on the sides of the head, etc. The fetus is actively growing and gaining weight. The weight of a full-term baby is at least 2.5 kg, and the height is 47 cm.

To summarize, what is the difference between a fetus and an embryo.

At the end of the 40s. XX century, there was no scientific knowledge about the embryo. At that time, they thought that the unborn child, the fetus, is something in the womb. And to consider or not to consider him a human being, a one-of-a-kind person, was a matter of faith. The attitude towards the unborn child changed in the 70s, when science began to study the fetus and the results of this study became the property of medicine. Discoveries in this area became possible thanks to the introduction the latest technologies such as ultrasound, electronic monitoring of the heart of the embryo, radiation immunochemistry and others. Ultrasonic introscopy in real time, i.e. obtaining an image of a child in motion exists as a method clinical trial since 1976. The ultrasonic device works so accurately that it can distinguish even tiny heart valves that open and close during heart contractions. This perfect equipment enables parents to see their child even before birth. Thanks to the technologies, instruments and equipment used modern medicine, we are convinced that the unborn child is a human being, another member of the human community, no different from other people.

It is argued that the embryo is part of the mother's body. This is not the case for many reasons. First, genetically it is different from the mother. Secondly, the placenta does not grow into the wall of the uterus - there is a placental barrier that prevents most of the mother's diseases from penetrating through it, infection of the child, as a rule, can only occur from the moment of birth. The mother's blood cannot penetrate into the embryo, in its composition and group, in the genetics of each cell of its body, the embryo is different from the mother. The mother warms it, protects it, removes carbon dioxide and gives oxygen and the building blocks from which its proteins will be formed. But he will add them in each of his cells according to his own unique genetic program.

Professor of the Department of Embryology, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University,
Doctor of Biological Sciences D.V. Popov

In France, the life of a child begins to be protected by state laws 10 weeks after conception, in Denmark - after 12 weeks, in Sweden - after 20, in many countries life is legally protected only after birth. Laureate Nobel Prize James Watson proposed to protect the life of a child three days after birth... When does human life really begin? Who to believe? Or maybe French children begin to be human 10 weeks after conception, little Danes after 12 weeks, Swedes after 20 weeks, and the child of James Watson will become human only three days after birth? ..

Today it is already an indisputably established scientific fact: human life begins at the very moment when two sex cells meet and unite: male and female, and as a result of this connection one cell is formed. And now, in this one microscopically small cell, the whole future of a person is already laid: his gender, blood type, even the color of his eyes and hair - all this is in this cell and will only develop and be revealed in the future. All that is needed for the formation of an adult from this small cell is food, oxygen and time. It's all. Each such cell - the embryo is already a unique and inimitable person. There has never been another like it in the history of the world; and no matter how many centuries or millennia this story continues, there will never be another like it.

How does the Orthodox Church view this issue? Church laws (canons) have always protected a human being already in the mother's womb: "Those who deliberately destroyed the conceived fetus in the womb are subject to condemnation, as for murder," writes St. Basil the Great (canon 2). As we can see, there is not a word about the age of the fetus: it doesn’t matter when it was conceived - even 10 weeks ago, even yesterday, even an hour ago, even a minute. In this, all the holy fathers who expressed their opinions on this subject are of one mind. Let us name among them, besides St. Basil the Great, such pillars of Orthodoxy as St. Gregory the Theologian, St. John Chrysostom, St. Ephraim the Syrian, St. Maximus the Confessor.

From the Church's point of view, human life does not begin with birth and does not end with death. These two milestones are limited to only one of the stages of human life. This stage is preceded by intrauterine life, this stage is followed by the afterlife.

The fastest development and rapid growth of the child occurs immediately after implantation (introduction) of the embryo into the wall of the uterus.

Scientists have calculated that if the growth and development of the child during the entire period of pregnancy proceeded as intensively as in the first 7 weeks - by the time of birth the weight of the newborn would be 14 tons - this is the weight of two elephants ...

At 10-11 weeks (by the middle of the third month of pregnancy) all organ systems human body fully formed. Since that time in France, the life of the child begins to be protected by law. The laws of other countries allow killing this already formed little man. Why? On the grounds that, although it has been formed, it has not yet had time to fully develop? .. But it will continue to develop even after its birth, no less than 12-14 years. If it is possible to kill for this reason: insufficient development - then, together with intrauterine babies, let's allow killing all children until the end adolescence. Or we will introduce a gradation into the Criminal Code: for the murder of a three-year-old child, a shorter term is given than for the murder of a ten-year-old - because he is less developed ... Wildness? And this is not savagery: for the murder of a newborn baby - in prison, and for the murder of an intrauterine baby - a paid sick leave, although both the fetus and the baby are people only potentially. We feel disgust for that mother who, after the birth of her child, secretly throws it into the dustbin, and we carry flowers to another who throws her child into the dustbin in public, in the medical ward, with the help of doctors.

An American magazine told of a woman who gave birth to a 5-month-old baby and begged doctors to save his life. The entire hospital was put on its feet so that the child would survive. The most experienced doctors worked for the rescue, large cash... And in the same hospital, on the same day and hour - just in a different room - another woman aborts her 5-month-old baby. In one room, a 5-month-old child is perceived as a person, and in the next room, the same 5-month-old child is regarded as a piece of meat.

At one feminist demonstration for the legalization of abortion, women chanted: "All laws away from our body!" These women obviously believe that abortion is their purely personal matter, and no one has the right to interfere in such matters. Such women need to be told: - No, abortion is not your personal business. This case would be your personal if it concerned only your personality. But it also concerns another person - the personality of your child ... Imagine that a bandit attacked you and wants to kill you. A policeman runs up, tries to protect you, and the bandit says to him: "Well, get off! Killing her or not killing her is my own business. You have no right to interfere in my personal affairs." Will you follow the bandit into persuading the policeman to leave and not intervene? has the right to intervene"?.. You need to protect your life - but you don't need to protect the life of a defenseless baby? We must protect his life!

There are people who believe that abortion still cannot be equated with ordinary murder - because the intrauterine baby is not yet a "personality", and even not viable.

A person or not a person is, of course, a matter of faith, which is decided depending on the general philosophical and religious beliefs of a person. For an atheist and a materialist - really not a person. But with a materialistic vague understanding of personality, it is generally difficult to find out when a person becomes one - one becomes at 5 years old, another at 25, and another will live all his life, and never will ... Christian faith responds to this question unambiguously: undeniably, personality! How can it not be a personality when this intrauterine baby already has its own individual and immortal soul?! Yes, mommy is an immortal soul! Which, unlike the calf, you have no power to dismember or kill. And which will stand at the Last Judgment before the Almighty next to yours, also an immortal soul. "Whoever died in the mother's womb and did not enter into life, he (the Judge) will make of age at the same moment in which he returns life to the dead (in the general Resurrection) ... Those who have not seen each other here will see each other there, and the mother will know that this - her son, and the son will know that this is his mother ... "(St. Ephraim the Syrian. Ed. 1900, part 4. p. 105, "On the fear of God and on the last judgment"). Perhaps only then will this unfortunate mother fully understand the horror of what she has done. “The harlot, who exhausted the fetus conceived by her in the womb, so that he would not see the world here, He (the Judge) will not let him see the new age,” St. Ephraim the Syrian writes further. “How she did not allow him (her child) to enjoy life and light in this age, so He (God) will deprive her of life and light in that age. Inasmuch as she decided to spew her fetus out of the womb prematurely in order to hide it in the darkness of the earth, then she, like a dead fetus of the womb, will be spewed into outer darkness Such is the recompense for whoremongers and harlots who encroach on the life of their children."

As for "viability", it should be clarified: what is meant by the term "viability". If we understand the ability for an independent and independent existence, then the child is clearly not capable of such an existence even after birth. And it won't be able to for a long time. Try to leave a two-year-old or even a five-year-old baby to himself - will he live on his own, without outside help, for at least a week? ..

Priest Alexander Zakharov
from book "

MOSCOW, November 29 - RIA Novosti. Molecular biologists in Britain have for the first time been able to turn stem cells into miniature analogues of placental tissue, the study of which will help reduce the number of miscarriages and improve the health of the child. The results of the first experiments with her were presented in the journal Nature.

Over the past two decades, biologists have learned how to turn stem cells into tissues of bones, muscles, skin, and the nervous system. Such tissues can become "spare parts" in case of damage to the body or a cure for a number of degenerative diseases. For example, cultures of "stem" neurons can become a panacea for the treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and other versions of them can help restore lost limbs or organs.

In particular, in April 2012, scientists were able to turn stem cells into hair follicles and successfully transplanted them into the back of the head of "bald" mice. Three years ago, Japanese scientists collected full-fledged copies of various organs, such as kidneys or liver, from stem cells, and also grew a rat's leg and "connected" it to the body of a rodent.

As biologists explain, the placenta consists of two types of cells, syncytiotrophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts. The former are responsible for the formation of a special barrier that separates circulatory system embryo from the mother's body, and the second - for the organization of the metabolism between them.

Scientists have long been interested in how both groups of placental cells arise and how disturbances in their work can be associated with miscarriages, various complications, and the death of the fetus even before it is attached to the uterine wall.

British researchers have taken the first step towards these answers. They picked up a special "cocktail" of various hormones and signaling molecules that causes the stem cells contained inside the special "villi" in the placenta to turn into full-fledged miniature copies of this organ.

To do this, scientists analyzed which genes were most active inside the placenta at 6-9 weeks of gestation, and isolated substances associated with the “growing up” of stem cells. Combining them with a mixture of molecules from an already formed placenta, Turco and her colleagues obtained a drug that causes these “blanks” to turn into full-fledged analogs of the placenta, which remain stable for an almost indefinitely long time.

These miniature organs, according to scientists, have all the important features of the placenta. They contain both types of cells, inside they have "villi" involved in the exchange of gases and nutrients, and they produce all the critical hormones and signaling molecules.

As biologists hope, experiments with these mini-organs will help not only to reveal the secrets of infertility and the causes of miscarriages, but also to understand why some rare pathogens, such as the Zika virus, can penetrate it.