Atlantic Currents at Risk, Lab-Grown Embryo Models Offer Research Alternatives
EXETER, UK – New research analyzing the shells of long-lived clams reveals concerning evidence that atlantic ocean currents may be nearing a critical “tipping point,” potentially disrupting global climate patterns. Simultaneously,scientists at the University of Cambridge have developed a novel method for generating human blood cells in a lab setting,offering a potential avenue to reduce reliance on animal research.
The clam shell study, published in Science Advances, examined growth layers in quahog clams and dog cockles – natural archives recording annual ocean conditions. Researchers from the University of exeter identified signs of “stability loss” in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and the subpolar gyre (SPG), vital systems regulating heat distribution. A weakening or collapse of thes currents coudl lead to significant temperature changes in Europe and North America, impacting weather systems and sea levels. This research underscores the urgency of understanding long-term ocean behavior and the potential consequences of climate change.
Separately, the University of Cambridge team has pioneered a new technique to produce human blood cells in vitro using a self-organizing human embryo-like model. Unlike existing methods requiring supplemental proteins, this approach mimics natural development, fostering the formation of both blood and heart cells within the system. This breakthrough holds promise for simulating blood disorders like leukemia and generating enduring blood stem cells for transplants, potentially reducing the need for animal models in blood-related research.
Both studies, highlighted this week by the Biomedical Animal Research News Digest (BARN), demonstrate innovative approaches to critical scientific challenges – one focused on understanding a looming environmental crisis, the other on advancing biomedical research with reduced animal use.
https://news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-environment-science-and-economy/clam-shells-sound-warning-of-atlantic-tipping-point/
https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/new-lab-grown-human-embryo-model-produces-blood-cells
https://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/the-biomedical-animal-research-news-digest
