May 4, 2016

modelling human embryo development

Mouse models of embryo development have told us a great deal about the early stages of life, but until now attempts to model these stages using human embryos have been unable to take us beyond the first few days of development, past the stage where the embryo implants itself into the womb.

Now, in parallel papers in Nature and Nature Cell Biology, two international teams report the development of a technique that allows scientists to culture human embryos further than ever before, up to day 13 of development, the limit allowed by law.

Journalists came along to the Science Media Centre to find out:

• Why do we need to understand embryo development in humans?
• What have been the technical challenges that have limited us up until now?
• What have we learned from these new developments?

Roundup comments accompanied this briefing.

Speakers:

Professor Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, Professor of Mammalian Development and Stem Cell Biology, University of Cambridge

Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, Group Leader, The Francis Crick Institute