Time-lapse images of human eggs after parthenogenetic activation

Watch this video of human eggs after being parthenogenetically activated in a Bedford Research experiment. Unfertilized human eggs activated in the laboratory, termed “parthenotes,” can divide into stem cells with the capacity to develop into any body tissue type.

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Human eggs were parthenogenetically activated with SrCl2 (5 mM) and then incubated at 37°C and 6.5 % CO2 in a medium that allows for cell division. About 35 % of the eggs cleaved while the rest remained alive without dividing. One 8-cell, one 4-cell, three 2-cell, and one fragmented parthenotes can be observed by the end of the incubation period. Images were taken every 15 minutes for a total of 42 hours.