British scientists are discussing a project to create synthetic blood from embryonic stem cells, which could lead to an unlimited blood bank. The idea of using embryos with universal O negative blood is of special interest, making transfusions safer and reducing infection risk.

British scientists are launching a project to create synthetic blood from embryonic stem cells. The project is designed to last three years. It involves the blood transfusion and organ transplant services of England and Scotland, as well as the world’s largest research pharmaceutical company, Welcome Trust.
It is expected that the project will make it possible to create an unlimited blood bank. Another plus is that when artificial blood is transfused, a person does not risk contracting mad cow disease. Several cases of infection have been recorded in Britain, when patients suspected that the transmission of the infection occurred precisely during transfusion.
To obtain artificial blood, researchers intend to use embryos left over after in vitro fertilization. From all the embryos, those genetically programmed for blood type “O” with a negative Rh factor will be selected. The first blood type, as is known, is universal and can be transfused to any recipient without the risk of rejection.
Scientists plan to select embryos with the universal blood type 0(I) with a negative Rh factor, with which an extremely low number of rejections has been recorded. Notably, 0(I) is a rather rare blood type, found in only 7% of the population, but it can be synthesized in unlimited quantities from embryonic stem cells, which can be multiplied in the laboratory.
Representatives of the project note that all scientific agreements have been reached and the delay in starting the research is due to complex legal aspects in the matter of the legal framework. However, the initiators of the scientific experiment hope that they will be able to resolve these problems in the near future.
The destruction of embryos to create stem cells immediately raises the question of the morality of such a method, however, as reported, in theory one embryo would be enough to satisfy the country’s needs for artificial blood.
As is known, scientists around the world have been trying, and continue to try, to create an artificial blood analog for more than half a century. Almost all existing blood substitutes are based on perfluorocarbons and hemoglobin obtained from human or animal blood (the amount of which, frankly speaking, is not infinite).
Outside the United Kingdom, scientists are also working on the development of synthetic blood - similar projects exist in Sweden, France, and Australia. Last year, employees of the American company Advanced Cell Technology announced that they had managed to obtain billions of functioning red blood cells from stem cells.
In the United Kingdom, this is still at the discussion stage. Specialists believe that the issue lacks moral justification, since theoretically, to fully meet the needs of the country’s research institutes for stem cells, only one embryo is sufficient.
It is worth noting that not long ago British scientists developed a new blood substitute. The pasty substance can be diluted with water and transfused directly on the battlefield or at the site of an accident. The chemical testing of the preparation has been completed; the most important one remains - the biological test.