Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to establish that human gestation is far more than a passive incubation process, but rather it is a dynamic and intricate “maternal-fetal dialogue” mediated

by hormonal, nutritional and sensory signals. These signals then serve as the foundational mechanism for prenatal programming and epigenetic adaptability. It is argued that a hypothetical

Artificial Womb Technology (AWT), if designed as a static and  merely optimal environment, would deprive the fetus of these essential developmental inputs. Such deprivation could induce

“epigenetic misprogramming”, particularly in genetic loci regulating stress responses, such as NR3C1, and neuroplasticity, such as BDNF, leading to a catastrophic mismatch between an

individual programmed for stability and the unpredictable nature of post-natal world. It will be contended that a functional AWT cannot exist in isolation. Its very feasibility hinges on resolving the challenges of dynamic programming. This paper will hypothesize a future AI-orchestrated convergence of three currently distinct yet synergistic technological domains. This convergence would not only provide a potential “intervention strategy” to address the mismatch, but also give rise to an entirely new reproductive paradigm.