Embryo News and Research

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Stanford researchers make hair-cell-like cells in a petri dish

Deep inside the ear, specialized cells called hair cells detect vibrations in the air and translate them into sound. Ten years ago, Stefan Heller, PhD, professor of otolaryngology at the Stanford University School of Medicine, came up with the idea that if you could create these cells in the laboratory from stem cells, it would go a long way toward helping scientists understand the molecular basis of hearing in order to develop better treatments for deafness.

14 May 2010

DNA sequence of amphibian genome sheds light on the study of embryonic development

A pair of University of Houston researchers contributed to the assembly of the first comprehensive DNA sequence of an amphibian genome, which will shed light on the study of embryonic development, with implications for preventing birth defects and more effectively treating many human diseases.

7 May 2010

Making stem cells in the lab: a training program and a study

Young researchers will now be trained for the first time by the Australian Stem Cell Centre (ASCC) in scientific techniques of using and growing human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells in research. This training will be through StemCore iPS Cell Workshop, the ASCC's national facility for the provision of stem cells and advice.

5 May 2010

Scientists develop new web-based algorithm techniques to identify DNA sequences

Life is almost unbearably complex. Humans and mice, frogs and flies toggle genes on and off in dizzying combinations and sequences during their relentless march from embryo to death. Now scientists seeking to understand the machinations of the proteins behind the genomic wizard's screen have a powerful new tool at their disposal, courtesy of researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

5 May 2010

Researchers convert established human iPS cells, ES cells to base state of greater pluripotency

Whitehead Institute researchers have converted established human induced pluripotent stem cells and human embryonic stem cells to a base state of greater pluripotency.

4 May 2010

Scientist to receive 2010 March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology

The scientist who reprogrammed adult cells into embryonic-like stem cells has been chosen to receive the 2010 March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology.

3 May 2010

Cash crisis for infertility treatment prompting couples to go for multiple embryo implantations

With the rise in costs for fertility treatments, more and more Australian women are requesting their specialists to implant more than one embryo in their wombs. This is resulting in a rise in twin and triplet births.

3 May 2010

Single, coordinated mechanism controls production of ribs and associated muscles in embryo

Like all vertebrates, snakes, mice and humans have in common a skeleton made of segments, the vertebrae. But a snake has between 200-400 ribs extending from all vertebrae, from the neck to the tail-end, whereas mice have only 13 pairs of ribs, and humans have 12 pairs, in both cases making up the ribcage.

29 Apr 2010

Increase in number of mistakes made at fertility clinics

For many couples IVF is the last hope they have of having a baby and with some IVF clinics committing such blunders as implanting the wrong embryos or fertilizing the egg with the wrong man’s sperm, these hope can soon turn into a nightmare.

26 Apr 2010

Animal studies demonstrate safety profile of ACT's RPE cell therapy for SMD

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. announced today that it has completed key animal studies in connection with its Phase I multicenter study using embryonic stem cell derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) cells to treat patients with Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy (SMD), for which it filed an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November. The studies demonstrated an excellent safety profile with no safety signals such as tumors or ectopic tissues.

24 Apr 2010

New on-off switches: SUMO protein silences developmental genes, SNP2 snips SUMO to allow gene expression

Deleting a gene in mouse embryos caused cardiac defects and early death, leading researchers to identify a mechanism that turns developmental genes off and on as an embryo matures, a team led by a scientist at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center reported today in Molecular Cell.

23 Apr 2010

New insight into mechanism regulating early mammalian development

Scientists at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) have recently generated significant single cell expression data crucial for a detailed molecular understanding of mammalian development from fertilization to embryo implantation, a process known as the preimplantation period. The knowledge gained has a direct impact on clinical applications in the areas of regenerative medicine and assisted reproduction.

22 Apr 2010

eSET program produces high pregnancy rates, minimizes multiple pregnancy risks

Every year thousand of families are created with the assistance of in-vitro fertilization. Many of those newborns are twins. While some may see this as a double blessing, it is important to understand that there are many potential risks associated with multiple gestation.

16 Apr 2010

Elective single embryo transfer for Canadian women under 35 most efficacious and cost-effective option

Many Canadian couples battling infertility turn to in vitro fertilization (IVF) to have a child. In Canada, IVF is not publicly funded, making the decision on the number of embryos to be transferred more complicated than in many European countries which link funding to elective single embryo transfer (eSET).

16 Apr 2010

New research highlights adverse effects of air pollution on human reproduction

Exposure to an increased level of air pollutants, especially nitrogen dioxide, has been associated with lower likelihoods of successful pregnancy among women undergoing in vitro fertilization, according to a team of fertility researchers.

13 Apr 2010

Transgenic mouse model study confirms passage of maternal thyroid hormones to fetus

Until now there were only indirect evidence of the transfer of thyroid hormones from mother to fetus through the placenta during pregnancy. That event is very important because the maternal thyroid hormones appear to play a key role in the development of the nervous system and other organs of the fetus; so it's true that in case of maternal thyroid disease, such hypothyroidism, have a direct bearing on the unborn child with reduction, also significant, to its Q.I..

12 Apr 2010

New Guardia AccessET Curved Embryo Transfer Catheter for embryo placement

Cook Medical's Women's Health division has released the Guardia AccessET Curved Embryo Transfer Catheter, featuring Cook's patented EchoTip technology. The catheter's echogenic band allows the catheter tip to be seen more clearly under ultrasound, which can allow for more accurate embryo placement.

9 Apr 2010

ASPIRE 2010 focuses on A.R.T. issues

Infertility, defined as the failure to conceive after 12 months or more of regular, unprotected intercourse, may affect as many as 15 percent of couples around the world including Asia. Like other countries, China's infertility rate is on the rise increasing from 3 percent to 15 percent in the past 20 years. It is estimated that at least 40 million Chinese couples have difficulty in having children or are actually infertile.

7 Apr 2010

Irvine Scientific's Vit Kit- Freeze, Vit Kit- Thaw and Oil for Embryo Culture receive CE mark approval

Irvine Scientific, a leader in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), announced today it received CE mark approval for its Vit Kit®- Freeze, Vit Kit®- Thaw and Oil for Embryo Culture. This news accompanies the recent announcement of CE mark approval for a number of other media for ART from Irvine Scientific.

30 Mar 2010

Cook Medical's new IVF culture-oil purification process reduces contaminant trace to below detectable limits

A new purification process developed by Cook Medical for culture oil used in assisted reproduction eliminates traces of contaminants below detectable limits of 0.1 parts per million. The oil is purified by a proprietary refining technique that removes hydrocarbon impurities, which can have adverse effects on fertilization and threaten the viability of the developing embryos. The culture oil viscosity, MEA and LAL parameters remain unchanged.

27 Mar 2010