Scientists discover insights. - Formation of a baby's facial features during pregnancy
A recent study sheds light on how the human face might be influenced by pressure in the womb. The scientists found that certain stem cells in embryos can be hindered from growing when exposed to increased pressure.
An international group of researchers looked into the growth of mouse, frog embryos, and human embryoids. Embryoids are clusters of embryonic cells synthesized in laboratories.
The purpose of their work was to examine how some cells inform others about their development and differentiation.
In the course of their research, they discovered that critical signaling pathways in the cells were interfered with under heightened external pressure.
The implications of this research suggest that crucial moments in an animal’s development could experience impaired tissue growth, potentially causing deformations in the head. It is believed that these deformities are attributed to both genetic and environmental factors.
"Our findings indicate that facial deformities might not exclusively be caused by genetics, but could also be influenced by physical signals like pressure during development," says neurobiologist Roberto Mayor from University College London.
In their study, they focused on a fluid-filled cavity called "blastocoel." They discovered that pressure on this cavity hampers the activity of a protein that supports the development of embryonic tissue structure.
This discovery marks an important stride forward in comprehending how humans (along with other vertebrates) develop.
"Our research suggests that embryos can be affected by pressure, but we don't know to what degree," says Mayor. "Further studies are needed to determine if changes in pressure within the uterus can alter the embryo."
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Source: symclub.org
