German Molecular Biologist Introduces World’s First Artificial Womb Facility

A German molecular biologist unveiled the world’s first artificial womb facility, EctoLife, which could incubate up to 30,000 babies a year.

“My new concept will be unveiled early December, something that I have been working on for a while,” said Hashem Al-Ghaili in November.

“The new concept relies on over 50 years of groundbreaking scientific research.”

Hashem Al-Ghaili is a producer, filmmaker and a science communicator based in Berlin, Germany, according to his website.

EctoLife brands itself as a facility enabling infertile couples to conceive and become the biological parents of their own offspring.

“It’s a perfect solution for women who had their uterus surgically removed due to cancer or other complications. With EctoLife, premature births and C-sections will be a thing of the past. EctoLife is designed to help countries that are suffering from severe population decline, including Japan, Bulgaria, South Korea, and many others,” according to its press release.

“According to the World Health Organization, around 300,000 women die from pregnancy complications. EctoLife artificial womb is designed to alleviate human suffering and reduce the chances of C-sections,” Al-Ghaili wrote.

Warning: Graphic Content!

According to the World Health Organization, around 300,000 women die from pregnancy complications. EctoLife artificial womb is designed to alleviate human suffering and reduce the chances of C-sections. Learn More: https://t.co/NWnWbf5dKz#EctoLife pic.twitter.com/cstph4FOJp

— Hashem Al-Ghaili (@HashemGhaili) December 9, 2022

From Science and Stuff:

In an exclusive interview with Science and Stuff, Al-Ghaili says he thinks the EctoLife concept could one day supplant traditional birth. In so doing, he said society would finally be able to meet the needs of parents who are “tired of waiting for a response from an adoption agency” and those who are “worried about pregnancy complications.” But most importantly, he says EctoLife could allow us to confront the infertility crisis head-on.

“The facility features 75 highly equipped labs. Each state-of-the-art lab can accommodate up to 400 growth pods or artificial wombs. Every pod is designed to replicate the exact conditions that exist inside the mother’s uterus.”

“A single building can incubate up to 30,000 lab grown babies per year.”

“EctoLife allows your baby to develop in an infection-free environment. The pods are made of materials that prevent germs from sticking to their surfaces. Every growth pod features sensors that can monitor your baby’s vital signs including heartbeat, temperature, blood pressure, breathing rate and oxygen saturation.”

“The artificial intelligence-based system also monitors the physical features of your baby and reports any potential genetic abnormalities.”

“The pods are equipped with a screen that displays real-time data on the developmental progress of your baby. These data are sent directly to your phone so you can track your baby’s health from the comfort of your zone. The app also provides you with a high-resolution live view of your baby’s development.”

“EctoLife improves your bonding experiences with your baby. Thanks to a 360 degrees camera that’s fitted inside your baby’s growth pod, you can use your virtual reality headset to explore what it is like to be in your baby’s place. See what they see and hear what they hear.”

“And if you want your baby to stand out and have a brighter future, our Elite Package offers you the opportunity to genetically engineer the embryo before implanting it into the artificial womb. Thanks to CRISPR-Cas 9 gene editing tool, you can edit any trait of your baby through a wide range of over 300 genes. By genetically engineering a set of genes, the Elite Package allows you to customize your baby’s eye color, hair color, skin tone, physical strength, height, and level of intelligence. It also allows you to fix any inherited genetic diseases that are part of your family history so that your baby and their offspring will live a healthy comfortable life free of genetic diseases. Say goodbye to the pain of childbirth and birth-related muscle contractions.”

Watch the full video about EctoLife below: