BPoD has moved!

BPoD has recently changed our domain name - we can now be found at bpod.org.uk

Please update your bookmarks!

Now in our 13th year of bringing you beautiful imagery from biomedical science every day

Search the archive of over 4000 images

Mousing Development

New approach enables efficient production of lab-grown 3D tissue for studying embryo development

19 March 2023

Mousing Development

A fertilised egg divides until a human emerges. Developmental biologists study this intricate dance of cells to learn how bodies are built. But getting a peek at the earliest stages of development isn't easy, so they use scientific models. One of the most exciting is the ETX embryoid, which is constructed from mouse stem cells. It allows scientists to study events that they can't see in the uterus, and it doesn't involve experimenting on animals. But high-quality ETX embryoids are difficult to produce. Here, we see one made using a new, more efficient recipe – its pattern of fluorescent tags tells us that its cells are properly organised. By fine-tuning their procedure, the researchers were able to produce these embryos with a 40% success rate. This improvement makes working with ETX embryoids more feasible for scientists around the world, which may help them answer profound questions about how life starts.

Written by Henry Stennett

Search The Archive

Submit An Image

Follow on Tumblr

Follow on Instagram

What is BPoD?

BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

Read More

BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.