Conception, a biotech startup, is on its way to transforming reproduction and fertility. It’s working to develop artificial female eggs from blood cells. This breakthrough can lead to manufacturing eggs in labs, breaking reproduction rules as we know them.
While the research is still in progress, Conception has made strides in the reproductive industry and raised $20 million from renowned investors like Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI; Jaan Tallinn, one of the founders of Skype; and Blake Borgeson, cofounder of Recursion Pharmaceuticals.
But how are they converting adult cells into eggs? How will it benefit the human race? Is it ethically right?
In this article, we’ll delve deeper into Conception’s technology and explore its potential impact on the future of reproductive healthcare.
Conception’s goal and approach: What are they up to?
Conception is breaking new ground in the field of reproductive technology by developing replacement eggs for women, sourcing blood cells from female donors to create ‘concept human eggs’. While this technology has not yet been realised, the founder of Conception, Matt Krisiloff, is confident it’ll become a reality soon.
How will this technology benefit the human race?
The implications of this breakthrough are far-reaching:
- Women without ovaries—due to cancer or surgery—would be able to have children.
- It’ll eliminate the natural cap of female fertility. Women of any age (at 50, 60, or even beyond) would be able to have children.
- Converting male cells into eggs will allow same-sex couples and those in unconventional relationships to have related children.
The MIT Tech Review adds that this breakthrough could pave the way for the creation of ‘designer children’ with superior intelligence and genetic makeup, offering the possibility of eliminating the risk of genetic diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s from future generations.
What’s the technology behind Conception?
Researchers at Conception are pursuing a process called vitro gametogenesis, i.e, converting adult stem cells into gametes—sperm or egg cells. They’ll first convert the blood cell to a pluripotent stem cell, which can then form any other type of tissue.
The startup aims to produce human eggs and a patented process for making them by working with stem cell-derived tissue.
Conception is adapting the process of Japanese scientists, who in 2016 converted skin cells from mice into fertile eggs. However, the challenge lies in coaxing the induced stem cells to become eggs that match the individual’s genetic makeup.
About Conception
Conception was founded by Matt Krisiloff, Pablo Hurtado González, and Bianka Seres in 2018. It is now one of the largest commercial ventures pursuing vitro gametogenesis. The startup employs around 16 scientists and is on a mission to solve complex problems related to reproductive technology.
While some researchers are sceptical of the young entrepreneurs’ ability to start a project, Krisiloff believes reproductive technology has the same sort of appeal to tech investors as AI or space rockets.
There are complex liabilities involved in creating artificial gametes. However, Krisiloff says more startups should be trying to solve ‘hard’ science problems, which could lead to discoveries happening faster.
Conception’s future goals include turning a man’s cell into a healthy egg, which is expected to be harder than creating an egg from a woman’s cell.
As Conception is still pursuing its goal and has not been able to develop a human egg yet, the startup has never put out a press release or sought public attention. Krisiloff doesn’t want to promote biological vaporware.
Parting words
Conception’s efforts to develop egg-making technology are both promising and controversial. The startup’s approach has the potential to revolutionise fertility treatments and help countless individuals and couples struggling to conceive. However, it also raises ethical concerns regarding the manipulation and commodification of reproductive biology.
Conception is not alone in pursuing this technology. Two other startups—Ivy Natal and Gameto—are also working on stem cell-based egg production, albeit with different methods.
Only time will tell if these companies can successfully achieve their goals. But their efforts have already attracted notable investors and generated significant buzz within the biotech industry.
Regardless of the outcome, these startups are pushing the boundaries of reproductive science and sparking conversations about the future of human reproduction.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
