Scientists grow ‘mini-organs’ from cells shed by foetuses in womb

Creating organoids from cells found in amniotic fluid could bring insights into cause and progression of malformations

Researchers have grown mini-organs from cells shed by foetuses in the womb in a breakthrough that promises to shed light on human development throughout late pregnancy.

They created the 3D lumps of tissue know as organoids from lung, kidney and intestinal cells recovered from the amniotic fluid that bathes and protects the foetus in the uterus.