Understanding human pre-implantation development has important implications for assisted reproductive technology (ART) and for human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-based therapies. Owing to limited resources, the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing this early stage of human development are poorly understood. Nonetheless, recent advances in non-invasive imaging techniques and molecular and g...

Expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is essential for embryonic development and serves important roles in gametogenesis. miRNAs are secreted into the extracellular environment by the embryo during the preimplantation stage of development. Several cell types secrete miRNAs into biological fluids in the extracellular environment. These fluid-derived miRNAs have been shown to circulate the body. Stabl...

Background Embryo morphology has been proposed as an alternative marker of chromosomal status. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate the association between the chromosomal status on day 3 of embryo development and blastocyst morphology.Embryo morphology has been proposed as an alternative marker of chromosomal status. The objective of this retrospective cohort stu...

In vitro whole-embryo culture of chick embryos, originally invented by New, has been widely used for studies of early embryogenesis. Here, a method for electroporation using the New culture and its derivatives is described, to achieve misexpression of exogenous gene in a temporally and spatially controlled manner in gastrulating chick embryos. Detailed information for the devices and procedures...

Both cleavage-stage and blastocyst-stage embryo transfer policieshave advantages and drawbacks.Potential advantages of blastocyst culture and transfer in human IVF include: i. synchronization of the embryo with the female tract leading to increasedimplantation rates; thereby, reducing the need for multipleembryo transfers, ii. assessment of viability of an embryobefore transfer. This can be ach...