GETTY Scientists claim to have cracked the cure for ageing

A team of scientists from the University of California, San Francisco have delepolped a drug which puts cell growth and activity on hold. So far the team have only used the technique on mice - but they are confident similar procedures could be applied to humans. In trials the drug restricted the activities of a protein called mTOR - which regulates cell activity - and extended the lives of the mice being tested by halting development all together.

The research could have a multitude of applications, including halting stem cell development in early stage embryos being used for IVF. The embryos could then be stored for later use and 'un-paused' at a later stage - with them continuing to develop normally after this process. The team basically completely paused the development of mouse embryos.

GETTY Ageing could be put on hold

GETTY The team used mice to test their methods

Ramalho-Santos, who was part of the team, said: "It was completely surprising. We were standing around in the tissue culture room, scratching our heads, and saying wow, what do we make of this? "To put it in perspective, mouse pregnancies only last about 20 days, so the 30-day-old 'paused' embryos we were seeing would have been pups approaching weaning already if they'd been allowed to develop normally." It is understood the finding could now be used to repair or replace human organs.

GETTY The process could also help to repair organs

It was completely surprising Ramalho-Santos, scientist

The breakthrough comes after a 14-year-old won the right to have her body preserved. The unidentified British girl dying of cancer fought a court battle to allow her body to be cryonically frozen after death, throwing on another spotlight on a procedure that promises immortality.

GETTY The process halts cell development

Medical breakthroughs: Nine of the most modern miracles Wed, June 28, 2017 Incredible medical breakthroughs leading to promising new treatments are just around the corner. Take a look at some of the most recent discoveries. Play slideshow 1 of 10