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| La Lupa Capitolina (Public Domain) |
As far-fetched as this may sound, the survival of the human race may depend upon alternative forms of mothering. If our home planet should become inhospitable, humans might need to be born and raised elsewhere. This may
entail simulated wombs, and even simulated parents.
Work along these lines has already begun. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is now routinely
accomplished in laboratories. Scientists have also shown “that embryos can be grown in the lab for two weeks after fertilization.”
An artificial uterus would then be required for some early stages of gestation. This field, known as ectogenesis, has made promising strides. In 2011, Dr. Carlo Bulletti and his team concluded: ...the growth and development of fetuses between 14 and 35 weeks of
pregnancy is within reach given our current knowledge
and existing technical tools.
Although the first 14 weeks of gestation remain a challenge, it seems only a matter of time before humans can be technologically born. But can they also be technologically raised?
Romulus and Remus aside, there are actually “4,000 plausible cases of children being away from other humans and growing up for some period without human contact.” So who knows? Perhaps robots will one day replace suckling she-wolves…
Resources
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/future-robots-mothers-fathers-depend-160003539.html
Copyright May 15, 2017 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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