A Stranger to Oneself: The Mystery of Fetal Microchimerism
A Stranger to Oneself: The Mystery of Fetal Microchimerism
During pregnancy, fetal cells invade maternal tissues and can persist for decades, but the effects of these non-self cells remain largely obscure.
During pregnancy, fetal cells invade maternal tissues and can persist for decades, but the effects of these non-self cells remain largely obscure.
pregnancy
Mitochondria: The Powerhouse of the Placenta
Hannah Thomasy, PhD | Jul 1, 2024 | 2 min read
Scientists seek citizens’ help to survey placental mitochondria in complicated and healthy pregnancies.
Babies on the Brain
Hannah Thomasy, PhD | Apr 1, 2024 | 2 min read
In rats, motherhood leaves long-term biological signatures in a brain region that is crucial for learning and memory.
Cell-Free DNA as Disease Biomarkers
The Scientist | 1 min read
In this webinar, Stella Goulopoulou and Iwijn de Vlaminck will discuss how they analyze cell-free DNA to identify biomarkers of various diseases and their complications, including preeclampsia, COVID-19, and transplant rejections.
Viral Immune Responses Suppress a Gestational Hormone
Shelby Bradford, PhD | Mar 25, 2024 | 4 min read
Influenza infection activates a pathway that leads to a detrimental drop in progesterone during pregnancy in mice.
Promoting Parenting Practices
Shelby Bradford, PhD | Feb 1, 2024 | 2 min read
Pregnancy hormones help mice prepare to take care of their young by altering activity in neurons.
The Scientist Speaks Ep. 15 - The Epigenetic Origins of Allergy and Asthma
The Scientist | 1 min read
Epigenetic marks acquired from environmental exposures throughout life influence human health and may even transcend generations.
Infographic: Early Placenta Development Sets the Stage
Danielle Gerhard, PhD | Dec 4, 2023 | 2 min read
During early pregnancy, the placenta remodels the uterine environment to support fetal growth
The Ephemeral Life of the Placenta
Danielle Gerhard, PhD | Dec 4, 2023 | 10+ min read
Recent advances in modeling the human placenta, the least understood organ, may inform placental disorders like preeclampsia.
The Vaginal Microbiome is Finally Getting Recognized
Hannah Thomasy, PhD, Drug Discovery News | Sep 25, 2023 | 10+ min read
Vaginal dysbiosis has long been a taboo subject, but studying and optimizing the vaginal microbiome could be a game changer for women's health.
The Cellular Intricacies of the Human Placenta
Ida Emilie Steinmark, PhD | Jul 5, 2023 | 2 min read
Rare samples saved 35 years ago helped researchers map gene expression and cell differentiation in first trimester placentas.
Stress Increases Biological Age, But Recovery Can Revert It
Alejandra Manjarrez, PhD | Apr 21, 2023 | 2 min read
A new study relying on DNA methylation clocks suggests that the biological age of mouse and human cells can fluctuate in response to stressful events.
Fast-Acting Nonhormonal Male Birth Control Prevents Pregnancy in Mice
Katherine Irving | Feb 15, 2023 | 5 min read
The “on demand” drug immobilizes sperm rather than limit their production, preventing 100 percent of pregnancies in an experiment.
Claudia Gerri Studies the Mysteries of the Placenta
Katherine Irving | Feb 1, 2023 | 3 min read
At the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, the developmental biologist is probing the maternal-fetal interface across mammalian species.
Infographic: How Immunology Can Influence Pregnancy Outcomes
Tobias R. Kollmann, Arnaud Marchant, and Sing Sing Way | Nov 14, 2022 | 3 min read
Pregnancy-induced changes in the immune system are key to a successful birth. Understanding those changes could allow researchers to protect both mother and child.
Modulating Immunity to Improve Pregnancy Outcomes
Tobias R. Kollmann, Arnaud Marchant, and Sing Sing Way | Nov 14, 2022 | 10+ min read
Aberrant immune activation, the main cause of prematurity and stillbirths, could be preventable through interventions such as maternal vaccination.
Obstetrics “Giant” Beryl Benacerraf Dies at 73
Katherine Irving | Oct 26, 2022 | 2 min read
Benacerraf pioneered the use of ultrasound to diagnose fetal syndromes.
Birth of The Pill, 1956–1960
Andy Carstens | Oct 3, 2022 | 2 min read
Researchers overseeing the clinical trial for the first FDA-approved oral contraceptive claimed the drug gave the Puerto Rican participants power over their family planning. Critics claimed the women were exploited.
Registry Review Casts Doubt on Causal Link Between Maternal Infection and Autism
Charles Q. Choi, Spectrum | Sep 26, 2022 | 4 min read
Maternal infection during pregnancy may be associated with autism, as previous studies have suggested—but perhaps not in a causal way.
Mother’s Circadian Rhythms Mirrored in Fetal Rat Brains
Bianca Nogrady | Sep 12, 2022 | 2 min read
Before their own central clocks develop, the brains of fetal rats detect their mother’s metabolic cycle to help regulate the expression of certain genes.