Science fiction is about to match up with reality as the world’s first “artificial womb facility” has been announced – where you’ll be able to choose your baby’s characteristics from a menu.
EctoLife, the brainchild of Berlin-based Hashem Al-Ghaili, a biotechnologist and science communicator, is a concept based on over fifty years of groundbreaking scientific research.
In theory, they will be able to grow 30,000 babies a year in their lab, and Al-Ghaili believes the facilities would allow infertile couples to conceive a baby and become the true biological parents of their own offspring.
But they also plan to offer an “Elite Package“, that would allow you to genetically engineer the embryo before implanting it into the artificial womb – with everything from eye and hair color to strength, height, and intelligence as choices.
Hashem claims it also offers a solution for some women who cannot conceive due to cancer or other complications.
He also thinks it could “help” countries that are suffering from severe population decline, including Japan, Bulgaria, South Korea, and many others.
Hashem believes the technology is available already, and only ethical constraints are holding the concept back from reality.
He claims: “Every single feature mentioned in the concept is 100% science-based and has already been achieved by scientists and engineers.“