Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the role of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in early pregnancy?
What is the role of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in early pregnancy?
What is the basis for early pregnancy tests?
What is the basis for early pregnancy tests?
In IVF, how is fertilization typically achieved when sperm count is normal?
In IVF, how is fertilization typically achieved when sperm count is normal?
At what stage are embryos typically placed into the uterus during IVF procedures?
At what stage are embryos typically placed into the uterus during IVF procedures?
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What is Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) used for in the context of IVF?
What is Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) used for in the context of IVF?
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What is the characteristic of cells in the early embryo up to the 8-cell stage?
What is the characteristic of cells in the early embryo up to the 8-cell stage?
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What is the duration of human pregnancy based on fertilisation?
What is the duration of human pregnancy based on fertilisation?
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When does implantation typically occur in human embryonic development?
When does implantation typically occur in human embryonic development?
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What is the most common ectopic implantation site for embryos?
What is the most common ectopic implantation site for embryos?
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Which structure gives rise to the future placenta in human embryonic development?
Which structure gives rise to the future placenta in human embryonic development?
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At what stage does a fertilised egg have two nuclei, one from the egg and one from the sperm?
At what stage does a fertilised egg have two nuclei, one from the egg and one from the sperm?
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How many cells are present in a three-day-old embryo?
How many cells are present in a three-day-old embryo?
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What is the main source of human embryonic stem cells?
What is the main source of human embryonic stem cells?
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Which type of twins are derived from 2 eggs?
Which type of twins are derived from 2 eggs?
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At what stage do 35% of monozygotic twins divide to get two babies with two amnions?
At what stage do 35% of monozygotic twins divide to get two babies with two amnions?
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What has greatly increased the number of fraternal (dizygotic) twins?
What has greatly increased the number of fraternal (dizygotic) twins?
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What is the rate of twins in the USA as mentioned in the text?
What is the rate of twins in the USA as mentioned in the text?
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What type of cells can embryonic stem cells be induced to become under certain experimental conditions?
What type of cells can embryonic stem cells be induced to become under certain experimental conditions?
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What is the recommended daily intake of folate for women of childbearing age to reduce the risk of neural tube defects?
What is the recommended daily intake of folate for women of childbearing age to reduce the risk of neural tube defects?
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Which antiepileptic medication is associated with an increased risk of spina bifida if used during early pregnancy?
Which antiepileptic medication is associated with an increased risk of spina bifida if used during early pregnancy?
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During which period does organ system development occur in a human embryo?
During which period does organ system development occur in a human embryo?
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At what stage is the embryo still to complete the development of the palate and external genitalia?
At what stage is the embryo still to complete the development of the palate and external genitalia?
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What occurs during the fetal period between weeks 9-38 of pregnancy?
What occurs during the fetal period between weeks 9-38 of pregnancy?
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When is chorionic villous sampling usually performed?
When is chorionic villous sampling usually performed?
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What is the significance of gastrulation in human embryonic development?
What is the significance of gastrulation in human embryonic development?
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What was the impact of reducing the number of embryos transferred during IVF from 3 to 2 in the early 1990s?
What was the impact of reducing the number of embryos transferred during IVF from 3 to 2 in the early 1990s?
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Which statement about monozygotic twins is accurate according to the text?
Which statement about monozygotic twins is accurate according to the text?
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What is established around 21 days gestation in human embryonic development?
What is established around 21 days gestation in human embryonic development?
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At what stage does human implantation typically occur?
At what stage does human implantation typically occur?
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What is the most common cause of identical twins?
What is the most common cause of identical twins?
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Study Notes
Early Pregnancy and Fertilization
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is produced by the trophoblast and maintains the corpus luteum of the ovary, which in turn produces progesterone, essential for early pregnancy.
- HCG can be detected in maternal blood and forms the basis of early pregnancy tests; detection in urine is less sensitive.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
- In IVF, one or more eggs (oocytes) are fertilized outside the body, either by placing a droplet of washed sperm onto each egg or through intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) if the sperm count is low.
- Fertilized eggs (zygotes) can be cultured for 3-6 days before being placed into the uterus, allowing for the selection of healthy blastocyst stage embryos.
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
- Cells from the early embryo (until about the 8-cell stage) are totipotent, capable of forming a complete human, and can be used for genetic screening.
- Over 100 diseases can be detected, including hemophilia A, muscular dystrophy, Tay-Sachs disease, cystic fibrosis, and Down syndrome.
Stem Cell Research
- Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can renew themselves for long periods through cell division and can be induced to become cells with special functions.
- Human embryonic stem cells are obtained from the inner cell mass of the early embryo.
Multiple Gestations (Twins)
- About 1 in 80 human births (0.8%) is a twin pregnancy, with about 2/3 being fraternal (dizygotic) and 1/3 being identical (monozygotic).
- IVF has increased the number of fraternal twins, with the rate of twins in the USA being 3% in 2001.
- In Sweden, the twin rate increased from 0.9% in 1982 to 1.7% due to IVF.
Implantation and Embryonic Development
- Human implantation occurs about 7 days after fertilization, where the developing embryo must pass through the uterine epithelium.
- The first week of human embryonic development is critical, with gastrulation converting the bilaminar disc into three layers.
- Human pregnancy lasts about 266±3 days or 38 weeks, with obstetricians timing pregnancy from the last day of the menstrual period.
Ectopic Pregnancies and Folate
- Implantation in a nonuterine site occurs at a rate of about 0.25-1%, with the ampulla of the uterine tube being the most common ectopic implantation site.
- Folate consumption (0.4 mg daily) is recommended for all women of childbearing age to reduce the risk of neural tube defects.
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Description
This quiz covers the key events in human embryonic development from fertilisation to implantation during the first four weeks. It includes concepts such as embryonic age, pregnancy duration, and the stages of early embryo formation.