Some scientists believe that the placenta and amniotic fluid that surrounds a foetus have their own microbiome. A new review refutes this.
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Articles on Placenta
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Genetic conflict may play a role in pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, as well as developmental disorders.
Bits of viral genes incorporated into human DNA have been linked to cancer, ALS and schizophrenia. But many of these genes may not be harmful, and could even protect against infectious disease.
We examined male seahorse pouches under the microscope at different stages of pregnancy, and found they develop complex placental structures over time — in similar ways to human pregnancy.
The placenta is one of the least studied organs, but it is the cause of problems in one in ten pregnancies. A virtual placenta is helping researchers to pick up at-risk pregnancies sooner.
A fetus needs oxygen long before its lungs work and it’s exposed to the air. Some ingenious biochemistry explains how the mother’s blood delivers it.
Babies undertake a massive transition during labour and delivery as they move from the supported environment of the uterus to independent existence.
The evolution of live birth from egg-laying is no mean feat. Now new research reports on the first known example where both eggs and a live birth come from the same lizard pregnancy.
Disorders affecting penis development are among the most common birth defects seen in humans, and rates are on the rise.
The placenta could hold the answers to why HIV positive women report higher rates of premature deliveries.
Don’t follow the celebs: eating the placenta has no proven benefits, and could be dangerous.
Women born in South Asian countries like India or Pakistan are more likely to have a stillbirth than women born in Australia or New Zealand.
We can prevent congenital deafness and intellectual disability due to cytomegalovirus by simple hygiene measures. So, why don’t pregnant women know about this?
Taking the placenta as a case study, researchers are able to piece together how new organs evolve, by repurposing old tissues and using them to do new jobs.
A pregnant woman’s immune response may be a risk factor for some neurological conditions like autism and schizophrenia in the baby later on.
Embryos greedily want more resources than their fair share. New research investigates how early in evolution their hormonal tactics arose.
An incredibly complex and important organ in its own right, the placenta is only found in mammals. And how it functions has the potential to have profound effects on the lifelong health of the developing foetus.
Top contributors
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Lecturer, Macquarie University
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Senior Lecturer, Evolutionary Biology, University of Sydney
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Perinatal Epidemiologist and NHMRC Early Career Research Fellow, Hudson Institute
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide
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Postdoctoral Scientist, Virology Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney
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Chair professor, Hudson Institute
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Postdoctoral Researcher in Neuroscience , University of California, Davis
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Lecturer in Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Deakin University
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Senior Research Fellow, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Monash University
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Merck Serono Senior Lecturer in Reproductive Biology, The University of Melbourne
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Professor, The University of Melbourne
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AXA Research Fund-Post doctoral research fellow, Division of Immunology, University of Cape Town
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Associate Professor of Chemistry, University of Richmond
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Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Otago
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Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health Research, University of Wollongong
