explore -WSS

explore

author：hotspot 2025-08-23 08:57:15 - browse：4975

Babies born by in vitro fertilization — when a woman’s egg is fertilized outside of her body and then implanted back into her uterus — skew more heavily male than babies conceived naturally. A study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences sheds light on why that happens.

You’ll want to know:

During normal development, female embryos usually shut down the activity of one of their two X chromosomes to keep gene expression levels the same as in male embryos. But researchers at the China Agricultural University saw that this process often went awry in mouse embryos created by IVF. Those female embryos were defective and didn’t develop properly. Researchers said it might be possible to fix the problem by adding a particular chemical (a derivative of vitamin A) to embryos in the lab dish before they’re implanted.

The background:

More than 5 million people have been born using IVF since it was pioneered in 1978. Skewed sex ratio has been debated for decades; one 2010 study found IVF produced as many as 128 boys born for every 100 girls.

Keep in mind:

The study was carried out on IVF embryos in mice, with naturally conceived mouse embryos as the control group. While mice are a commonly used research subject, findings in rodents don’t always translate directly to the biology of humans.

Also note that IVF births account for just 1 to 2 percent of total births in the United States, so having more males born via fertility treatments is unlikely to affect the gender ratio of babies nationwide. “I don’t think anyone should be worried even if there’s a slight increase in male births in patients undergoing fertility care,” said Dr. Mark Sauer, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Columbia University Medical Center, who was not involved in the study.

The bottom line:

Scientists might have figured out the cause for the skewed sex ratio that shows up in IVF births, but it’s not clear yet whether the strategies they propose to fix the issue will work in practice.

Previous article： Psychedelics group wrestles with new pharma identity
Next article： Health care court cases: Humana, Sutter, Novant

hotspot

WSS

What is artificial intelligence? Experts weigh in

Study: Why relieving medical debt did not improve financial outcomes

California wildfire smoke linked to 52,000 early deaths, study says

Report captures long Covid’s disabling effects and policy challenges

EMA weighs against approval for Mirati's lung cancer drug

It's time to take a new tack for treating Alzheimer's

focus

explore

You’ll want to know:

The background:

Keep in mind:

The bottom line:

knowledge

State Dept. review finds Biden bears some blame for Afghanistan failures

Prosecutors say FTX founder Sam Bankman

Anesthesiologist group: stop taking Ozempic before surgery

Study: Misdiagnosis causes 800,000 deaths, serious disabilities a year in U.S.

Alkermes shareholders re

What is artificial intelligence? Experts weigh in

The cancer drug shortage isn’t new — and neither are the solutions

Report captures long Covid’s disabling effects and policy challenges

Over 800 arrested across France in 3rd night of riots after fatal police shooting of teen

Heat wave can put hearts into ‘oxygen debt,' lab experiment shows

explore

How the BIOSECURE Act is already affecting U.S., Chinese life science firms

FDA reviewers ask if approval of Lilly’s Alzheimer’s drug should be restricted

Family of Gilgo Beach murder suspect releases statement: 'Devastating time'

Curing rare childhood diseases will falter unless Congress steps up

Language on climate change, ESG removed from company website of Montana GOP Senate candidate

California wildfire smoke linked to 52,000 early deaths, study says

leisure time

knowledge

hotspot

entertainment