Who, if anyone, thought of ectogenesis (the development of a fetus
outside a woman's body, in an artificial womb or artificial uterus)
before J. B. S. Haldane did (and published in his 1923 book Daedalus)?
Had the idea, under whatever name, ever appeared in any philosopher's
or scientist's writing before 1923? Had the idea ever previously
appeared in science fiction or fantasy literature? Or was Haldane
truly the first person ever to think of it?

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 22 Jan 2006 16:54 PST

Ectogenesis/ectogenetic is a biological term that goes back at least
to the late 19th century, and refers to the capability of some
organisms (more towards the bacterial than the human scale of things)
to produce viable structures outside their bodies.


I haven't seen anything to suggest the term was applied to humans
earlier than Haldane's work, though.


Just wanted to let you know that your question isn't being ignored.


pafalafa-ga

i don't know who was the first person to ever think of growing fetuses
outside the human body or who was the first person to put this idea in
print (couldn't be earlier than the invention of the printing press)
but as far as puting this idea into practice is concerned you may wish
to read the still open question i submitted entitled artificial womb
technology. it may be that someone creates this technology before
anyone gets around to writing about it.