Research
Uncovering the hidden origins of the placenta
Phys.org ·
The Brief
- An embryo attaches to the uterine wall roughly six days after fertilization, a stage called implantation, when it begins to build the body and placenta.
- Implantation is the stage of life scientists know least about.
- It is also the stage when most pregnancies are lost.
Why it matters
Implantation is poorly understood and is when most pregnancies are lost, so research into its origins could eventually inform work on pregnancy loss and reproductive health.
Who’s affected
- reproductive biologists
- researchers studying early pregnancy and placental development
- #placenta
- #implantation
- #embryology
- #pregnancy loss
- #evolution
When an embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus roughly six days after fertilization, it begins to build the body and placenta. Called implantation, this is the stage of life scientists know least about. It is also the stage when most pregnancies are lost.