Photographs of Embryo Development
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The oocyte/egg- Surrounded by a protein coat called the Zona Pellucida. |
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The 1st Day- The fertilised egg contains 2 pro-nuclei: one containing the genetic material from the mother the other containing the genetic material from the father. |
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2nd Day- The fertilised egg divides into 2 equal cells. |
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Then, a second division producing 4 identical cells. |
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3rd Day- The embryo now becomes 8 cells~72 ώρες after ferilisation. |
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5th/6th Day- The blastocyst is formed. The cells become differentiated. |
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Until now the embryo did not increase in size, but at the blastocyst stage a increase in size starts. The swollen blastocyst begins to herniate from its protein shell. (hatching). |
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The Hatched Blastocyst-the final stage before implantation., completely free from the zona pellucida |
