MSc Clinical Embryology University of Leeds

A new study has shown that human begin to show expression when they are at the single-cell stage, right after fertilisation. This is contrary to previous investigations that could only detect genetic transcription activity once the embryo had grown to four or eight cells, around two or three days after fertilisation. Read about the potential impacts of this work in BioNews: https://www.bionews.org.uk/page_161466
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An interesting look to the future:

Shanna Swan: 'Most couples may have to use assisted reproduction by 2045' The professor of environmental medicine explains how chemicals in plastics are causing our fertility to decline – and what we can do about it

In the journal Nature this week: Blastocyst-like structures generated from human pluripotent stem cells. Here's a report in the media.

Scientists form human cell clumps that act like early-stage embryos Cultured stem cells turn into blastoid ‘balls’, like natural blastocysts after egg fertilisation

Epigenetic Changes In S***m May Predict If A Man's Child Will Have Autism, Small Study Suggest Scientists have discovered biomarkers in human s***m that might be able to indicate whether a father is likely to have a child with an autism spectrum diso

How an embryo tells time It is estimated that the majority of pregnancies that fail do so within the first seven days after fertilization, before the embryo implants into the uterus. In this time period, a complicated cascade of events occurs with precise timing. One particularly important process is called polarization, wh...

Acoustic waves used to select high-quality s***m in IVF - BioNews Acoustic waves used to select high-quality s***m in IVF 14 December 2020 By Christina Burke Appeared in BioNews 1076 A new approach which uses sound waves to filter s***m for IVF has been developed by Australian researchers. The research team combined acoustic waves with fluid dynamics to sort high-...

2020-2024 strategy published | Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority We have published our new strategy for 2020-2024. It outlines our vision, ambitions and objectives as an organisation for the upcoming years.

Developing cells remember where they came from, thanks to keratin filaments A role for keratin in an early cell-fate decision in mouse embryos.

What impact does oocyte vitrification have on epigenetics and gene expression? Children conceived by assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have a moderate risk for a number of adverse events and conditions. The question whether this additional risk is associated with specific procedures used in ART or whether it is related to the intrinsic biological factors associated with...

IVF clinics set to reopen across UK Clinics will be required to show they can provide safe treatment during coronavirus pandemic

100 Women of the Year - 1978 Lesley Brown: pioneering mother. An 'incredible leap into the unknown'; Brown and her husband volunteered to try the experimental procedure of IVF after a nearly decade-long effort to conceive. Experts did not know if the method would work but Brown had a healthy pregnancy on her first try.
https://time.com/5793654/lesley-brown-100-women-of-the-year/

Our MSc Clinical Embryology and Assisted Reproduction Technology students showing their lab design projects. This year, our students even produced architectural models in addition to 3D walk-throughs of their plans on the computer. A huge amount of effort by all the students. Well done!