Image by K Hardy via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human embryo at the blastocyst stage (about six days after fertilisation) 'hatching' out of the zona pellucida.
BioNews
Fetus
The unborn offspring of a mammal. In humans, this stage of development lasts from nine weeks after fertilisation until birth.
594 articles
Securing an ethical future for research using neural organoids
Coordinated best practice guidance and a pivot to a forward-looking regulatory approach to emerging biotechnologies can enable neural organoid research to flourish responsibly, protecting ethical standards and public confidence...
When research challenges belief: Surrogacy families in the political crossfire
A 20-year study of UK surrogacy families found no evidence of widespread psychological harm to children, parents, or surrogates. Despite this, some recent reports have highlighted isolated cases rather than the full evidence, writes Professor Susan Golombok...
Image by Sílvia Ferreira, Cristina Lopo and Eileen Gentleman via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a single human stem cell embedded within a porous hydrogel matrix (false colour).
In utero stem cell therapy for spina bifida found safe in early trial
The use of stem cell patches to treat fetuses with spina bifida has been shown to be safe following a phase 1 clinical trial...
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
AI may improve accuracy of 'combined' prenatal test for Down's syndrome
A new approach to high-chance prenatal Down's syndrome screening, involving AI, could improve the predictive accuracy of the 'combined' test for Down's syndrome...
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
The clinical applicability of polygenic scores in PGT
Following reports that UK patients are seeking PGT-P – a form of preimplantation genetic testing that involves polygenic scores – Professor Angus Clarke discusses problems with polygenic scores in general, and with PGT-P in particular...
Event Review: HDBI Ethics Seminar – Ethics oversight in developmental biology research
Speakers highlighted the need for interdisciplinary dialogue between ethicists and researchers when considering ethical research involving stem cell-based-embryo models...
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
Image by Matthew Daniels via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts human cells, showing the stages of cell division.
From nuclear bombs to nuclear genomes
Professor of stem cell science, Dusko Ilic, discusses concerns raised by the plans of a US-based startup – the (new) Manhattan Project – to create genome-edited babies…
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
DNA collected by platelets could improve NIPT and liquid biopsies
A previously unknown function of platelets to 'hoover up' and store DNA in the blood could improve cancer diagnosis and prenatal screening...