Blastocyst News and Research

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Genetic testing before embryo transfer makes no difference to live birth rates

The genetic screening of fertilized eggs for embryo selection in assisted reproduction makes no difference to live birth rates, according to results from the largest published study of its kind.

6 Aug 2018

Mapping the Genes Responsible for Pluripotency

Dr. Atilgan Yilmaz and his team have developed a method by which they can produce haploid human embryonic stem cells from oocytes. They combined this technique with CRISPR-Cas9 to generate an atlas of the genome, containing the functions of over 18,000 genes.

23 May 2018

Stem cells cultured in vitro self-assemble into embryo

An embryo has been created in vitro from mouse stem cells cultured with a 3D scaffold. The resulting structure was remarkably similar to a natural mouse embryo.

3 May 2018

Scientists uncover new insight into earliest stages of mammalian pregnancy

Researchers used 3D imaging with molecular testing to uncover new insight into the earliest stages of mammalian pregnancy--offering clues to unsolved questions in pregnancy.

9 Feb 2018

Using CRISPR To Produce Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

An interview with Dr. Sheng Ding about using a modified version of the CRISPR-Cas9 system to produce induced pluripotent stem cells.

9 Feb 2018

Researchers grow human trophoblast stem cells for the first time

In a milestone achievement for better understanding the development and function of the human placenta, scientists have derived and grown trophoblast stem cells for the first time.

24 Jan 2018

Scientists use genome editing to understand role of a gene key to human embryonic development

Researchers have used a genome-editing technique to elucidate the role of a gene that is key to human embryonic development.

21 Sep 2017

Phthalate levels in expectant fathers influence sperm epigenetics, study suggests

Early results from a larger, ongoing study led by environmental health scientist Richard Pilsner at the University of Massachusetts Amherst suggest that phthalate levels in expectant fathers have an effect on couples' reproductive success via epigenetic modifications of sperm DNA.

12 Sep 2017

Cryopreservation of Embryos to Improve Assisted Reproductive Technology

If we were to compare the progression of cryopreservation technology during recent years, we would find that from 2004 to 2013 over a timeframe of a decade, there has been around a 2.5 times increase in the rate of frozen-thawed embryo transfers (FETs) that were reported to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART). While the rate of fresh embryo transfers (ET) that were completed was the same.

From Sofia Hospital of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine 19 Jun 2017

Salk scientists discover chemical cocktail that enables stem cells to generate tissues

When scientists talk about laboratory stem cells being totipotent or pluripotent, they mean that the cells have the potential, like an embryo, to develop into any type of tissue in the body.

6 Apr 2017

Experts report serious limitations to technology for screening embryos

The healthy development of an embryo created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) depends on whether most, if not all, of the cells have the proper number of chromosomes.

31 Mar 2017

Preimplantation genetic screening using next generation sequencing: an interview with Dr Luis Alcaraz

PGS, Preimplantation Genetic Screening, is a genetic test that analyses biopsied cells from embryos produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques. PGS determines whether the embryos are chromosomally normal (euploid) or not (aneuploid), thus giving the chance to transfer chromosomally normal embryos that are more apt to successfully implant and develop into a pregnancy.

24 Aug 2016

IVF Spain, Bioarray to present clinical outcomes of preimplantation genetic screening using NGS

Bioarray, S.L., IVF SPAIN S.L. and iGLS will present clinical outcomes of IVF treatments with PGS by NGS, after two years providing this genetic test as part of a cooperation supported in a framework agreement.

13 Jul 2016

Mitochondrial DNA levels may represent accurate, predictive measure of embryo viability in IVF

Despite the claims and counter-claims for new embryo assessment techniques introduced over the past two decades, the search for the holy grail of assisted reproduction - the key to the embryo destined to implant - continues.

4 Jul 2016

New research shows molecular, cellular processes in human embroyo development

Despite significant biomedical advances in recent decades, the very earliest events of human development¬--those that occur during a critical window just after fertilization--have remained an unobservable mystery, until now.

5 May 2016

Researchers develop new technique to create naïve pluripotent stem cells

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have for the first time shown that it is possible to derive from a human embryo so-called 'naïve' pluripotent stem cells - one of the most flexible types of stem cell, which can develop into all human tissue other than the placenta.

7 Mar 2016

Mitochondrial variation and viable pregnancy: an interview with Dr Elpida Fragouli

Embryos require adequate amounts of energy so that they can successfully progress through each of their cell divisions.

16 Dec 2015

Researchers identify factors that spark formation of pluripotent cells

Researchers at EMBL's European Bioinformatics Institute and the Wellcome Trust- Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute at the University of Cambridge have identified factors that spark the formation of pluripotent cells.

10 Nov 2015

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany announces CE Mark certification for two innovative fertility technologies

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in healthcare, life science and performance materials, today announced that the two innovative fertility technologies Gavi and Geri have cleared a major milestone, achieving CE Mark certification.

15 Jun 2015

Higher obstetric risk identified in ART pregnancies not linked to poorer academic performance in children

The academic performance of children conceived by assisted reproduction techniques (ART) is no better or worse than that of spontaneously conceived children when assessed at the ninth grade of their school education.