Human Embryos

Recent research has shed light on how "selfish DNA," particularly LINE-1 transposons, plays a key role in early human development. Once viewed primarily as harmful, these elements have now been found to be essential for the normal formation and specialisation of cells during the embryo's early stages. Blocking their activity causes developmental di...

The human Y chromosome, crucial for male development in the embryo, has been steadily losing its genes over millions of years. Currently, the chromosome is down to just 45 genes from an original count of 1438, with scientists estimating that it could disappear entirely within 11 million years. This genetic deterioration has raised concerns about th...

Mr He has resumed research on human embryo genome editing, despite the controversy over the ethics of artificially rewriting genes.

Mouse embryos have been grown on the International Space Station and developed normally in the first study indicating it could be possible for humans to reproduce in space, a group of Japanese scientists said.

The team of scientists said that these synthetic embryo models had all the structures and compartments characteristic of this stage.

He Jiankui said that this experiment would involve abnormal fertilised egg cells that are typically considered unsuitable for implantation in women.

These embryo-like structures are at the very earliest stages of human development.

Scientists have developed synthetic mouse embryos from stem cells. The model embryos feature beating hearts and even foundations for the brain and other organs of a mouse's body. The achievement is likely to help researchers unravel why some embryos successfully develop into a foetus while others fail to do so.

Techniques to genetically-edit human embryos should not be used until they are proved to be reliable and safe, an international commission said Thursday, in the wake of a scandal over gene-modified babies in China two years ago.

Human embryos could be susceptible to COVID-19 as early as the second week of pregnancy, if the mother gets sick, potentially affecting the chances of a successful pregnancy, according to a study.

Scientists have developed a human embryo "blueprint" using human stem cells, in a breakthrough that could provide vital insight into the early stages of infant development, new research showed Thursday.

Chinese twins Lulu and Nana had their genes altered before birth with a gene-editing tool. The Chinese scientist, He Jiankui, had claimed to have edited the DNA of their embryos in order to make them immune to acquiring HIV that causes AIDS.

Scientists said Wednesday they have successfully used mice stem cells to grow kidneys in rat embryos, using a technique that could one day help grow human kidneys for transplant.

A Chinese scientist triggered alarm, shock and confusion across the scientific community Monday with the claim that he had edited the DNA of human embryos to create twin baby girls, Lulu and Nana, who he said had been born "crying into the world as healthy as any other babies" a few weeks ago.

It's unclear at this point what led to the malfunctions. Both human error and mechanical failure are possibilities.

Recent research has shed light on how "selfish DNA," particularly LINE-1 transposons, plays a key role in early human development. Once viewed primarily as harmful, these elements have now been found to be essential for the normal formation and specialisation of cells during the embryo's early stages. Blocking their activity causes developmental di...

The human Y chromosome, crucial for male development in the embryo, has been steadily losing its genes over millions of years. Currently, the chromosome is down to just 45 genes from an original count of 1438, with scientists estimating that it could disappear entirely within 11 million years. This genetic deterioration has raised concerns about th...

Mr He has resumed research on human embryo genome editing, despite the controversy over the ethics of artificially rewriting genes.

Mouse embryos have been grown on the International Space Station and developed normally in the first study indicating it could be possible for humans to reproduce in space, a group of Japanese scientists said.

The team of scientists said that these synthetic embryo models had all the structures and compartments characteristic of this stage.

He Jiankui said that this experiment would involve abnormal fertilised egg cells that are typically considered unsuitable for implantation in women.

These embryo-like structures are at the very earliest stages of human development.

Scientists have developed synthetic mouse embryos from stem cells. The model embryos feature beating hearts and even foundations for the brain and other organs of a mouse's body. The achievement is likely to help researchers unravel why some embryos successfully develop into a foetus while others fail to do so.

Techniques to genetically-edit human embryos should not be used until they are proved to be reliable and safe, an international commission said Thursday, in the wake of a scandal over gene-modified babies in China two years ago.

Human embryos could be susceptible to COVID-19 as early as the second week of pregnancy, if the mother gets sick, potentially affecting the chances of a successful pregnancy, according to a study.

Scientists have developed a human embryo "blueprint" using human stem cells, in a breakthrough that could provide vital insight into the early stages of infant development, new research showed Thursday.

Chinese twins Lulu and Nana had their genes altered before birth with a gene-editing tool. The Chinese scientist, He Jiankui, had claimed to have edited the DNA of their embryos in order to make them immune to acquiring HIV that causes AIDS.

Scientists said Wednesday they have successfully used mice stem cells to grow kidneys in rat embryos, using a technique that could one day help grow human kidneys for transplant.

A Chinese scientist triggered alarm, shock and confusion across the scientific community Monday with the claim that he had edited the DNA of human embryos to create twin baby girls, Lulu and Nana, who he said had been born "crying into the world as healthy as any other babies" a few weeks ago.

It's unclear at this point what led to the malfunctions. Both human error and mechanical failure are possibilities.