Growth And Development

In a proof-of-concept study, scientists have demonstrated how 3D models made from embryonic stem cells, could be used as part of the testing process to assess if drugs and treatments are safe for developing embryos.

Female and male mammals are genetically similar, with the exception of their sex chromosomes: females have two X chromosomes (XX) while males have one X and one Y (XY). In females, one of the X chromosomes needs to be ‘turned off’ in every single cell in their body.

Researchers from the Francis Crick Institute have studied the earliest point at which the heart forms during embryonic development and revealed, for the first time, that each part of the heart has a unique origin. Their study in mice, published in PLoS Biology today (Thursday), has implications for understanding congenital heart diseases.

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have revealed that CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing can lead to unintended mutations at the targeted section of DNA in early human embryos. The work highlights the need for greater awareness of and further research into the effects of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, especially when used to edit human DNA in laboratory research.

With the advent of CRISPR-Cas9, scientists can now better alter the DNA of plants and animals, helping them to understand the causes of disease and even find potential new treatments. Cheaper than the tools scientists previously used, it has improved research in labs all over the world.

The first stages of placental development take place days before the embryo starts to form in human pregnancies. The finding highlights the importance of healthy placental development in pregnancy, and could lead to future improvements in fertility treatments such as IVF, and a better understanding of placental-related diseases in pregnancy.

Why do pregnancies last longer in some species than others? Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have found the clock that sets the speed of embryonic development and discovered the mechanism is based on how proteins are made and dismantled.

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute, the Institut Pasteur and their clinical collaborators have identified a cause of testicular tissue developing in people with female chromosomes.