Embryo News and Research

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Paternal age may influence sex-specific gene expression changes in embryos

When genes are "expressed," it is like reading an instruction manual to create things the body needs - such as proteins or RNA.

20 Oct 2026

Study reveals mature immune functions in embryonic neutrophils

Neutrophils are white blood cells that form part of the body's first line of defence. Researchers have now demonstrated for the first time that neutrophils are found in many tissues during embryonic development, and that they can perform the same functions as adult neutrophils.

19 Oct 2026

New immune profiling tool identifies antibodies that trigger preterm births

A typical pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, but for about 1 in 10 pregnant women labor begins too soon. Premature or preterm birth is the leading cause of newborn deaths worldwide.

14 Oct 2026

Three-dimensional genome structure shapes complex traits in cephalopods

Octopuses, squid and cuttlefish, collectively known as coleoid cephalopods, have evolved exceptionally large and elaborately structured nervous systems capable of complex behaviours such as problem-solving and rapid camouflage.

12 Oct 2026

DNA Typewriter tracks cell divisions and developmental decisions in mice

Scientists have succeeded in reconstructing the family tree of cells in a developing mouse embryo. They recorded cells' relationships, starting when the fertilized egg first split in two and ending after the body with organs took shape.

8 Oct 2026

Parental plastic exposure harms offspring through multiple biological routes

Microplastics and nanoplastics are increasingly found throughout aquatic environments, raising concern about whether these tiny particles can move from exposed parents into their offspring.

23 Sep 2026

Polystyrene nanoplastics may threaten reproductive health and offspring development

Plastic pollution is increasingly being recognized as more than an environmental problem. Tiny plastic particles can enter living organisms, circulate through biological systems, and potentially reach reproductive tissues.

21 Sep 2026

New base editing techniques accurately modify genes in human embryos

A study by researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons has found that new cutting-edge techniques can accurately edit genes in human embryos-giving scientists indispensable tools for understanding normal human development-but has also uncovered important risks that currently preclude the use of the techniques in the clinic.

9 Sep 2026

Study identifies 14 egg-layer gene variants linked to female infertility

Researchers determine 14 variants in the egg's protective layer associated with female infertility which can affect assisted reproductive technology outcomes.

8 Sep 2026

New AI model decodes chemical signals guiding embryonic cell development

As an embryo develops from a small cluster of stem cells, those once "blank slate" cells begin to take on more specialized roles like brain, liver, or muscle cells, and organize themselves into three-dimensional structures such as tissues and organs.

8 Sep 2026

Paternal sperm epigenetics may help explain early pregnancy loss

When a pregnancy ends early and unexplained, the search for answers usually begins with the mother. Lacey Luense, Ph.D., wants to know what the father's sperm might have to do with it.

28 Aug 2026

Cellular glue protein found to help clear away dead cells

A protein which sticks cells and tissues together has been found to have a surprising second job: helping cells which are packed into a continuous sealed layer, also known as epithelial cells, engulf nearby dead cells.

27 Aug 2026

Study reveals public willingness to select embryos using traits when given choices

A study of more than 2,000 people in the United States and China finds that the line between medical and non-medical traits, which underpins the rules on embryo testing in most countries, does not match the preferences of the public.

26 Aug 2026

Review uncovers how tryptophan metabolism affects female reproductive health

In recent years, issues concerning female reproductive health have become a global challenge that cannot be ignored.

24 Aug 2026

Book reframes pregnancy loss as a natural trial-and-error process

According to a new book from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign anthropology professor Kate Clancy, pregnancy is necessarily fraught, involving a series of tests of egg, embryo and reproductive system viability, with potential losses at every stage.

24 Aug 2026

Cryo-EM provides real-time glimpse of cellular machinery reading DNA inside living organisms

All living things have a fleet of tiny copy machines that turn instructions from DNA into RNA, the molecules responsible for helping build proteins that keep organisms alive.

20 Aug 2026

Common e-cigarette flavorant may disrupt normal embryo development

Vanillin, a common flavoring chemical in e-cigarettes, may disrupt the normal development of embryos in pregnant women who vape, according to a study published today (Thursday) in Human Reproduction, one of the world's leading reproductive medicine journals.

13 Aug 2026