Scientists Discover Dormancy Mechanism in Human Embryos

New research reveals potential to pause embryonic development, offering new avenues for IVF and stem cell science.

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.