Researchers have developed a microfluidic platform for reliably producing stem cell colonies that mimic early stages of human development in order to investigate infertility and other big questions in maternal and child health. Read the paper in Nature: This new system has the potential to open the so-called black box of human development -- the critical window between two and four weeks after conception that's barely observable to scientists today. During this period, many miscarriages happen, and serious birth defects can form. Recently scientists have even begun to find connections between late-onset diseases and early development.
The technique, developed at the University of Michigan and led by Jianping Fu, associate professor of mechanical engineering, imitates stages in embryo development that occur shortly after implantation in the uterus. The embryo-like or “embryoid” structures don't have the potential to develop beyond small colonies of cells.
The system can reliably produce hundreds or thousands of embryo-like structures needed to determine whether a medicine is safe for a pregnant woman to take in very early pregnancy, for instance.
The team terminated the experiments by the end of the fourth day.
This research was published in Nature:
“Controlled modelling of human epiblast and amnion development using stem cells"
News advisory:
Feature article:
“Opening the black box of human development”
Integrated Biosystems and Biomechanics Laboratory:
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