Human blastoid as an in vitro model of human blastocysts

Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2023 Dec 4;84:102135. doi: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102135. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTHuman development is a highly coordinated process, with any abnormalities during the early embryonic stages that can often have detrimental consequences. The complexity and nuances of human development underpin its significance in embryo research. However, this research is often hindered by limited availability and ethical considerations associated with the use of donated blastocysts from in vitro fertilization (IVF) surplus. Human blastoids offer promising alternatives as they can be easily generated and manipulated in the laboratory while preserving key characteristics of human blastocysts. In this way, they hold the potential to serve as a scalable and ethically permissible resource in embryology research. By utilizing such human embryo models, we can establish a transformative platform that complements the study with IVF embryos, ultimately enhancing our understanding of human embryogenesis.PMID:38052115 | DOI:10.1016/j.gde.2023.102135
Source: Current Opinion in Genetics and Development - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Source Type: research