In a groundbreaking advancement, scientists from the Chinese mainland have successfully reconstructed a 3D model of a human embryo at the critical three-week stage after fertilization.
Traditionally, ethical constraints limit in-vitro culture of human embryos to 14 days, leaving the subsequent growth period shrouded in mystery—a gap often referred to as a \"black box.\"
However, researchers at the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and China Agricultural University broke new ground by conducting high-resolution profiling on over 38,000 gene spots of a human embryo.
By integrating gene expression patterns with spatial information, they constructed a detailed 3D model, shedding light on the dynamic activity of signaling pathways along the embryonic body axis.
The study, published this week in the journal Cell, holds significant clinical implications for understanding early embryonic development, including the causes of miscarriages and fetal disorders.
This breakthrough opens new avenues for scientists and medical professionals to explore the intricacies of human development, potentially leading to improved healthcare outcomes.
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Chinese scientists build 3D model of three-week human embryo
cgtn.com
