In this fascinating video produced by the BBC, Prof. Jacob Hanna from Weizmann’s Department of Molecular Biology joins several global experts to discuss embryonic growth outside of the womb.

Hanna and his team made history by growing mouse embryos externally, and Hanna believes in the next ten years clinical trials in humans could be possible.

The potential impacts of growing human fetuses in a synthetic womb are wide-ranging, saving premature babies too underdeveloped for traditional incubators, preventing life-threatening pregnancy complications, and providing an opportunity for people who are unable to conceive for a variety of reasons, to have children.

While the technology is still a ways off, Hanna and his colleagues also discuss the ethical and social consideration such advances would require.