Induced blastocyst-like structures, methods of production and uses of the same

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention describes a method for producing induced blastocyst-like structures (iBLASTs) by co-culturing two populations of embryonic stem cells: one genetically modified to differentiate into the trophectoderm (outer layer of the blastocyst) and the other remaining as standard pluripotent embryonic stem cells. The process allows for the artificial generation of blastocyst-like multicellular structures in vitro, which can develop into embryos and, ultimately, non-human animals when transferred to a surrogate. The invention includes related kits and uses, offering an alternative to conventional methods that use naturally derived blastocysts, thereby reducing the need for animal donors.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Generation of transgenic or knockout animals for scientific research (e.g., mice for gene function studies).
• Production of genetically-defined livestock for agricultural purposes, such as disease resistance or hybrid traits.
• Rescue and propagation of endangered animal species via cross-species embryogenesis.
• Mass production of embryos for pharmaceutical testing or stem cell research without reliance on animal donors.
• Selective breeding, including sex selection in livestock to optimize production outcomes (e.g., producing only female pigs for meat production).
• Educational and industrial-scale production of embryos for developmental biology research.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Reduces or eliminates the need to harvest natural blastocysts from donor animals, decreasing animal use and ethical concerns.
• Simplifies the process of generating embryos, making it less technically demanding and eliminating the need for complex injection procedures.
• Allows for large-scale and high-throughput production of embryos or animals, beneficial for research and industrial applications.
• Enables generation of animals entirely derived from modified stem cells (rather than chimeric), facilitating genetic studies and trait selection.
• Shortens breeding and analysis timelines by producing fully derived animals in one generation, saving time and resources.
• Provides a flexible platform adaptable to multiple mammalian species, including livestock and endangered species.

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of producing an induced blastocyst-like structure; an induced blastocyst-like structure and uses thereof; a method of producing a non-human embryo or non-human animal; a kit suitable for the production of an induced blastocyst-like structure, a non-human embryo or non-human animal; and the use of a modified embryonic stem cell for the production of an induced blastocyst-like structure, a non-human embryo or a non-human animal.