Thanks Phil! I hope so! 🙏

Crick Crash Course: Embryo development

I am giving a "Crash Course in Embryo Development" for the general public (no science background needed! pitched around GCSE-level) in London on 21st May www.crick.ac.uk/whats-on/cri... We'll dip into development, with a splash of embryo models, and a pinch of ethics. And it's free! Book online 👍

A guide to using embedded ethics in human stem-cell-based embryo model research Nature Cell Biology - This Perspective proposes the use of an integrative embedded ethics approach to evaluate human stem-cell-based embryo models and outlines a nested benchmarking strategy to...

While this is our perspective, and just the start of a wider discussion, we hope it will be helpful for the community wrestling with SCBEM regulation. 👍 See also the great piece published back-to-back from Jesse Veenvliet and team rdcu.be/fckmY proposing 'embedded ethics' as a way forward 🙌 [5/5]

We also discuss the possibility of "features of public concern" that might not hold ethical properties themselves, but are still crucial to consider in the context of public trust in research, and the responsibilities of researchers more generally. [4/5]

Table outlining the features and considerations that we propose should be considered in SCBEM research

As a starting point for this discussion, we propose that 'developmental stage', the degree of 'integration of organ systems', the 'fetal potential' and 'capacity to form circuits' should be considered for any human SCBEM research proposal. [3/5]

In it, we caution against trying to classify the ever-growing and fast-paced SCBEM field, and instead suggest we go back to basics and identify the "morally-relevant features" that hold ethical consideration. This helps us identify what we want to protect and what we might want to prevent. [2/5]

Following several years (!) of discussion and rumination, our team of excellent colleagues - Martin Pera, @nicolasrivron.bsky.social, @amartinezarias.bsky.social, Karen Sermon and Nienke de Graeff - have published a new ethical perspective on SCBEM #embryomodels rdcu.be/fcklG [1/5]

Pictures of james briscoe, one avec mullet

And the @bsdb.bsky.social Waddington medal goes to... @jamesbriscoe.bsky.social. Could not be more highly deserved, I'm so delighted to hear this 👏

Honoured to receive this recognition from @isscr.org along with excellent colleagues- particularly since they noted the ethical advances which @nicolasrivron.bsky.social and I have tried to support in the growing SCBEM field alongside our research, showing the community’s value of ethical leadership

A confocal image of a 3D human Trunk-like Structure (hTLS) made from pluripotent stem cells, showing a neural tube (cyan) and segmented somites (magenta).

We're recruiting a #devbio Postdoctoral Fellow to explore the hTLS system! If you know any fab PhD students finishing, or candidates wanting to get their hands on #SCBEM embryo models, do get them to apply! 🌟www.crick.ac.uk/careers-study/vacancies/...

Komal Makwana (Postdoc in the Moris lab) wears purple and holds the December 2025 issue of Nature Cell Biology with a purple image of an hTLS on the cover)

She was so excited to receive a copy of this in physical form, Komal (joint 1st author) even colour coordinated! 😂 So proud of the team who delivered this fab work 💪🏼 …and our first cover too! ⭐️

Particular thanks to the reviewers, @alexandremayran.bsky.social , @sonnenlab.bsky.social and Val Wilson for their supportive feedback and critical review during the process which definitely made the work stronger 🙏 and to editor @slefkopoulos.bsky.social for the smooth handling 👍

Uncovering early embryonic communications using new stem cell model New stem cell-based embryo model reveals previously unknown communication between early tissues that become the spine and muscles in the central part of the body.

Lab-grown embryo models let researchers study foundational processes of development. A new embryo model has helped researchers at the Crick to study the neural tube and somites in detail and confirm two-way communication between them.

Read the full story ➡️ www.crick.ac.uk/news/2025-12...

Modelling co-development between the somites and neural tube in human trunk-like structures - Nature Cell Biology Makwana, Tilley et al. generate human stem cell-based trunk-like structures approximating Carnegie stage 13–14 of development. They use them to model and study the development of the thoracic and lumbar trunk.

Lovely little pre-Christmas present to see this out @natcellbio.nature.com! Some 🔥 new results in here since the biorvix incl (1) a new RARE-GFP reporter ✳️🙌, (2) additional NMP quantification 🔢, (3) no neural tube patterning on RA inhibition 🙅 etc. Enjoy! 😍 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

and special thanks to the fab all-female panel (+ @briancoxtalks.bsky.social 😆) for being such delightful people to discuss with! @joyceharper.bsky.social @lucyvandewiel.bsky.social & Güneş Taylor! @crick.ac.uk

What is the future of fertility? Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore the science of fertility. Biology has come a long way, but when it comes to fertilisation, pregnancy, and development, our knowledge is still surpr...

Tricky questions and challenging discussions, but I hope we communicated the importance of basic developmental biology research and social context when it comes to the #futureoffertility #ivf Available wherever you get your podcasts! 🎤 www.lnk.to/AQOSFertilit...

The Crick is looking for new junior group leaders! Any postdocs or early career researchers wanting to be our colleagues should apply 👍

Fully-funded 4-year PhD Opportunities available at the @crick.ac.uk , including a project in our lab on human #embryomodels Feel free to share with anyone interested, and apply through the online portal before 5th November! 👏

www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...

Well done for writing this Bethan! A really interesting read and some important points here on how we can all do better. 👏

A PowerPoint slide with a gastruloid on a mosaic tile background

Photo of the inside of Gaudi’s La Pedera building with decorative railings and mosaic painted walls

Naomi Moris hugs Meena Chakrabuty

Alfonso Martinez Arias giving a closing speech at dinner

Marvellous send off for @amartinezarias.bsky.social ‘s lab, perfectly located in Gaudi’s La Pedrera. I took no pictures as I was too busy hugging old friends, but the organisers incl @dias-andre.bsky.social pulled off something rly special. Community in science is the real joy of the work we do! 💕

A Question of Science | What's the future of fertility? A new podcast produced for the Crick by BBC Studios Science Unit.

Do you have friends with questions about fertility? Egg freezing? Embryo research? IVF? Stem Cells? If you're UK-based this Friday, the BBC are hosting a Question of Science and tickets are still available. PLUS you can submit a question in advance to ask the panelists 🎤
shorturl.at/BCTW7

Thanks @cellysally.bsky.social ! It's shaping up to be a great meeting (no pun intended...) so I'm looking forward to it ☺️

Congrats Ina! Very well deserved, and so lovely to read your interview in the attached link 👏 hope you're celebrating well! 🍾

Opinion | Human Embryo Research: What Time Limit Should We Set? For decades, scientists have abided by a 14-day boundary on their work. Now science can do more. But should it?

Fascinating story-telling on embryo research from the @nytimes.com "what once grew or failed to grow unseen is out in the open, under examination, up for debate"

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

🧫Looking for a PhD to start Autumn 2025? We're recruiting! 🧪

The project will focus on using #embryomodels to explore #development & could cover a range of specific questions. Please RT! 🙏

Apply via the portal, and get more details here: www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...

Here is the 2025 embryo alphabet from alligator to zebrafish. Developmental biology is stunning & leads to important discoveries for human medicine.
@socdevbio.bsky.social

Systematic identification of Y-chromosome gene functions in mouse spermatogenesis The mammalian Y chromosome is essential for male fertility, but which Y genes regulate spermatogenesis is unresolved. We addressed this by generating 13 Y-deletant mouse models. In Eif2s3y, Uty, and Z...

The Y chromosome is critical for sex determination, but what do the genes on the Y actually DO? And how is this important for spermatogenesis? Tour-de-force paper from our colleagues @lab-turner.bsky.social ! 👏https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ads6495

Modelling co-development between somites and neural tube with human Trunk-like Structures (hTLS) Human stem cell-based embryo models have opened new avenues of research in development by providing experimentally amenable in vitro systems. One of the features of embryo models is their multilineage...

This work was led by postdoc, Komal, and research scientist, Louise, @theCrick with the help of lots of others. The link to our biorxiv manuscript can be found here: biorxiv.org/cgi/content/... Feedback welcome, thanks for reading! 🙏 (7/7)

Signalling schematic in a cross section of the embryo (left) and a cross-section of the hTLS structures (right)

Thus, we found feedback in both directions, causing patterning important for organogenesis. The simple ‘modularity’ of hTLS that let us investigate in the presence/absence of certain tissues, could help us understand co-development, esp in a human context (6/7)

Localisation of gene expression within somites including UNCX (blue) located posteriorly and ALDH1A2 (magenta) which is next to the neural tube (pale pink)

So we looked at signalling between the 2 tissues. As predicted from animals, RA is needed for PAX6+ but not neurogenesis. Plus, ALDH1A2 (which synthesises RA) was only in the medial somite - implying neural tube signalling was reciprocally patterning the somites! (5/7)