Synthetic Embryology: Current Models and Future Applications

Initially, an observational science, the advances in molecular biology and the birth of genetic engineering have completely transformed the field of embryology by opening up the study of the mechanisms underlying embryonic development. Many discoveries in our understanding of the processes that shape early organismal development have been elucidated in these past decades. However, the scarcity of biological material and the complexity of studying, for example, an embryo in utero, hamper further major breakthroughs.

Developmental biology is once again entering a new era with the emergence of synthetic embryology that aims to recreate the developmental processes of the conceptus (embryo and its appendages) in vitro. Current models recapitulate key developmental stages including blastocyst formation, gastrulation and organogenesis. In addition to the study of embryogenesis proper, these models open the way to applications such as the study of congenital diseases, causes of infertility, the development of contraceptives or as potential tissue sources in the field of regenerative medicine.

The reconstruction of multicellular and polarized embryonic structures in a dish comes with new terminologies (e.g. gastruloids, embryoids, somitoids, etc), new models and new paradigms that need to be described and discussed by the scientific community. The conceptual revolution inherent in the generation of pseudo embryos will also have ethical implications and indeed may transform our relationship with the living.

In this research topic, we encourage the submission of both original research and review articles. Topics of interest include, but are not restricted to:
- Strategies to generate embryo models in mammalian and non-mammalian species
- Mechanisms underlying self-organization in embryonic and extra-embryonic stem cells
- Biotechnology platforms and devices that contribute to stem-cell self-organization
- Epigenetic mechanisms regulating cell fate changes
- Downstream applications of synthetic embryos
- Limitations of synthetic embryo models
- Ethical and juridical questions raised by bio-objects

We accept different article types including Original Research articles, Mini-Reviews, Brief Research Reports, and Perspectives. A full list of accepted article types, including descriptions, can be found at this link.

Keywords: Embryogenesis in a plate, Artificial embryos, Synthetic embryo models, Cell-fate Changes, Bio-objects, Gastruloids, Embryoids, Somitoids

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.