Re: #6 . . .
Star Trek creator/writer/producer Gene Roddenberry was all well and good, but we can also look to the 'dark side' of natural birth. I believe bin Laden is such a product.
;^)
As for the chemistry used, Marcia, I would have to say this is most probably a catalyst chemical compound that was found to initiate perpetual growth, with #7 stating the egg is now 'activated'. The sciences like their subject materials to be as low-maintenance as possible.
Dan