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No Sperm. No Egg. No Parents. | GeneBrief #007

No Sperm. No Egg. No Parents. | GeneBrief #007

A synthetic embryo turned a pregnancy test positive. No sex required.

Mario S
June 01, 2025

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No Sperm. No Egg. Just CRISPR.

Imagine a world where life begins with no parents — just a dish, some stem cells… and the right code.

That world just got a little closer. In 2023, scientists at the Weizmann Institute created human embryo-like structures without sperm or eggs. Genetically reprogrammed stem cells self-assembled into early-stage models — complete with yolk sacs, placenta-like tissue, and hormones that turned a pregnancy test positive.

Let that sink in: a synthetic embryo triggered the same chemical signal as a real pregnancy.

They’re not alone. Teams at Cambridge and Caltech are racing to build similar structures. No hearts. No brains. But still… human-shaped beginnings. This isn’t science fiction. It’s happening now.

Why do it? To study early development. To understand miscarriages. To explore fertility innovation and — one day — custom embryo design.

But it raises a new question: What is a synthetic embryo? Is it alive? Does it deserve legal protection? Right now, the law has no clear answers.

One thing is certain: the line between artificial and biological life is fading fast.

Once we learn to grow the beginning of a human from scratch… what's to stop us from finishing the rest?

Super Rice That Could Feed a Billion

Rice is life for over half the planet. But climate change is testing that — with droughts, floods, and heatwaves wiping out harvests.

Now, researchers have created a CRISPR-edited rice that can survive extreme heat — without losing yield. A single gene was tweaked to keep grain production going even above 100°F (38°C).

Field trials showed 20–50% higher yields under heat stress. And because no foreign DNA was added, regulators may approve it faster in nations facing food crises.

The IRRI in the Philippines has long developed climate-resilient rice — but CRISPR adds speed and precision. This might be the leap that secures rice for generations.

Feeding the world is no longer just an agricultural problem. It's a genetic one.

The Genetic Dating App Is Here

Love is going genomic. A new wave of dating apps is emerging — not based on swipes or star signs, but on your DNA.

Platforms like DNA Romance analyze your genetic profile and match you with someone who’s “chemically compatible.” Not metaphorically — literally.

The app looks at genes tied to immune system diversity, especially the MHC region. Research shows people are often more attracted to those with different MHC genes — a built-in evolutionary mechanism to create stronger offspring.

Companies like GenePartner and Pheramor are betting that these genetic patterns can predict attraction — before you even meet.

It’s early. It’s niche. But it’s real. And it points to a future where dating becomes genetic optimization.

Imagine uploading your genome, swabbing a date’s cheek, or getting compatibility scores based on your polygenic profiles.

Your Tinder bio says “loves hiking and sushi.”
Your genes say “incompatible due to serotonin transporter polymorphisms.”

In the age of CRISPR, love might not just be in the air. It could be in the code.

🧠 The Brief Byte

Lab-grown neurons just learned how to play Pong.
Scientists wired brain cells to a computer chip — and taught them to rally a digital ball using real-time feedback.
— Cortical Labs, 2022

🔦 Spotlight

Loyal

They say dogs don’t live long enough. Loyal is trying to change that.

This biotech startup isn’t building a dog clone or uploading your pup to the cloud. They’re doing something more radical — treating aging itself like a disease.

Loyal’s scientists are developing longevity drugs for dogs, starting with large breeds that age faster and die younger. Their lead compound targets metabolic aging pathways, aiming to extend both lifespan and healthspan.

And it’s not theoretical. Their first drug just got FDA conditional approval — the first ever for a longevity treatment in any species.

Why dogs? Because we already share our homes, our habits, and even our healthcare systems with them. If a drug can safely slow aging in man’s best friend, it opens the door to something much bigger: human aging as a treatable condition.

Loyal isn’t just trying to give dogs more birthdays.
They’re using dogs to prove aging isn’t inevitable.