Overview

• Researchers at Max Planck Institute and IMBA have identified a way to induce a dormant state in human embryos using the mTOR signaling pathway.
• This dormant state, similar to embryonic diapause in other mammals, slows development and reduces metabolic activity.
• The induced dormancy can be reversed, allowing embryos to resume normal growth, which could improve the timing and success of IVF procedures.
• The study used human pluripotent stem cells and blastoids, providing ethical alternatives to actual human embryos for research.
• Findings suggest that humans retain an evolutionary mechanism for dormancy, with potential applications in reproductive medicine and stem cell preservation.