Researchers at the University of Cambridge have found a new way to produce human blood cells in the lab that mimics how they form naturally in embryos. Their discovery could pave the way to simulate blood disorders like leukaemia and produce long-lasting stem cells for transplants.

The team used human stem cells to create three-dimensional, embryo-like structures that replicate early human development, including the formation of blood stem cells. These cells, known as hematopoietic stem cells, are the body’s building blocks for every type of blood cell, from oxygen-carrying red cells to immune-boosting white cells.