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Stem Cell Model Reveals Mechanics of Early Human Embryo Development

For the first time, a stem cell model has produced a structure resembling an early human embryo with a yolk-sac-like structure, from a single starting stem cell population and without direct genetic manipulation.

21 Apr 2026

Physics Explains How Neural Tube Closure Occurs in Embryos

In about one out of every 1,000 pregnancies, the neural tube, a key nervous system structure, fails to close properly.

21 Apr 2026

Largest Genetic Study Reveals New Biological Clues for Severe Pregnancy Sickness

The USC research team that recently identified the hormone-encoding gene GDF15 as a key driver of pregnancy sickness has identified 9 additional genes linked to its most severe form, hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).

15 Apr 2026

Early Epigenetic Changes and Gut Microbiome Interact to Shape Neurodevelopment

The gut microbiome and epigenetics-molecular switches that turn genes on or off-are intertwined, and both contribute to neurodevelopment, finds a study publishing April 10 in the Cell Press journal Cell Press Blue.

13 Apr 2026

Single-Cell Mapping Uncovers Insights Into Pregnancy Complications

The biological connection between a pregnant woman and her developing baby has been mapped in unprecedented detail by UC San Francisco scientists, revealing new cell types and insights into conditions such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and miscarriage.

9 Apr 2026

Biodegradable Plastic Byproducts Impair Fetal Growth in Mouse Study

When the "eco-friendly" bioplastic, polylactic acid (PLA), biodegrades, the resulting nanoplastics can accumulate in the fetuses of pregnant mice and interfere with fetal growth. Yichao Huang and De-Xiang Xu of Anhui Medical University, China, and Mingliang Fang of Fudan University, China, report these findings in a new study published March 26th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology.

28 Mar 2026

Microgravity Negatively Impacts Sperm Navigation

Having a baby in space may require a bit more direction, with new Adelaide University research revealing the navigational abilities of sperm are negatively impacted by a lack of gravity.

27 Mar 2026

Gut Microbes Reshape Ovarian Aging in Mice

Findings indicate gut microbes impact ovarian function in mice, offering insights into reproductive aging and potential microbiome-based health interventions.

12 Mar 2026

Small RNAs in the Sperm Guide the Earliest Stages of Embryonic Development

Mounting evidence from research on nematodes to mice indicate that a father's environment, such as what he eats or if he is exposed to stress or toxicants, can lead to metabolic and behavioral disorders in his offspring.

20 Feb 2026

Maternal And Fetal Cell Exchange Shapes Health Across Multiple Generations

During pregnancy, maternal and fetal cells migrate back and forth across the placenta, with fetal cells entering the mother's bloodstream and tissues.

24 Jan 2026

Stem Cells Mimic Earliest Stages of Brain Development in a Dish

Researchers have made great strides to understand early signs of autism. Studies have found that certain factors like genetics, sleep deprivation, excess fluid in the brain-and brain size-can increase the risk of neurodevelopmental conditions, like autism.

26 Dec 2025

New 3D Model Reveals Crucial Interactions During Early Embryo Development

By engineering a system replicating the womb lining with high biological accuracy, researchers at the Babraham Institute and Stanford University have been able to study the implantation of human embryos, opening up this enigmatic process to investigation.

24 Dec 2025