First Week of Human Development
Human development begins at fertilization when a sperm fuses with an oocyte to form a single cell, the zygote . This highly specialized, totipotent cell (capable of giving rise to…
Introduction to Human Development
Human development is a continuous process that begins when an oocyte (ovum) from a female is fertilized by a sperm (spermatozoon) from a male to form a single-celled zygote (…
Self-Assessment
Chapter 1 Question 1 Why are we concerned with terminology? All research groups know what the words and terms they use mean. Answer 1 It is possible that different research…
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
Key Points • Physiological changes associated with pregnancy have a profound effect on how medications are handled in pregnant women. • Most medications taken by pregnant women reach the fetus…
Neonatal Management and Outcome in Extreme Prematurity
Key Points • Improvement in neonatal management over the past decades has led to an increase in survival rates among extreme preterm neonates and a simultaneous decrease in the limits…
Fetal Gene Therapy
Key Points • Gene therapy for fetuses may provide a therapeutic advantage over postnatal treatment for certain congenital diseases. • Three types of fetal gene therapy are available: direct ‘somatic’…
The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
Key Points • Influences during early life have substantial impact upon adult health and disease. • This concept is most commonly known as the developmental origins of health and disease….
Multiple Pregnancy
Key Points • Multiple pregnancies are at high risk for adverse perinatal outcome. The standard of care is early confirmation of chorionicity and timely referral when complications arise. • Current…
In UteroStem Cell Transplantation
Key Points • In utero transplantation (IUT) has the potential to cure or ameliorate many disorders before birth. • Animal models for studying IUT have fundamental differences from human models…
Disorders of Amniotic Fluid
Key Points • Amniotic fluid (AF) volume is usually well regulated in pregnancy. • Subjective or semiquantitative ultrasound measurement systems are used to identify and categorise disorders of AF volume….
