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• An embryo is the early fetal development of complex living organisms. Embryos have similar characteristics across many species.

• Fast Facts

  1. In humans, embryo development includes growth before 8th weekWebMD: From Embryo to Baby in 9 Months
  2. After the 8th week, the developing human is considered a fetusWebMD: From Embryo to Baby in 9 Months
  3. Embryonic development includes major cell specialization and organ system developmentWebMD: From Embryo to Baby in 9 Months
  4. Alcohol, drugs and radiation can cause problems with embryonic developmentWebMD: From Embryo to Baby in 9 Months

• Fertilization

  Embryonic development begins with the fertilization of the ovum by a single sperm cell. With the fertilization, the two cells merge to create a new cell called a zygote. The zygote begins to divide until, after three or four days it becomes a morula, named so because of its mulberry shape.The Visable Embryo: Homepage

• Implantation

  The morula enters the uterus from one of the fallopian tubes and after another day or two the group of cells, now called a blastocyst, will implant itself into the uterine lining. The blastocyst produces human chorionic gonadotropin hormone which starts a hormone chain reaction that prevents menstruation.The Visable Embryo: Homepage

• Cell Differentiation

  After the 12th day, the blastocyst begins to differentiate, first into two separate groups, and then further into groups of cells that will develop into organ systems over the next two weeks. The embryo will develop from a small ball of cells into a tadpole-like organism. After the organ systems form, they begin to develop detail, with the heart and the brain dividing into sections and appendages forming visible fingers with webbing. At eight weeks past conception, the embryo is called a fetus.WebMD: From Embryo to Baby in 9 Months The Visable Embryo: Homepage

• Safety

  During embryonic development, critical growth is going on. To prevent damage to embryonic cell growth, WebMD suggests maternal refrain from alcohol, drugs and radiation, especially during the early weeks of pregnancy.WebMD: From Embryo to Baby in 9 Months

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Fetus | Pregnancy | Stages of Pregnancy | Abortion | Pregnant One Year Old | Stem Cell Research | Nadya Suleman | Elizabeth Adeney

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