In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
Fecundación in vitro
- Date
- 1978 · confidence high
- Place
- Oldham General Hospital, United Kingdom
- Credited to
- Robert Edwards (Nobel 2010), Patrick Steptoe and Jean Purdy; Louise Brown born on 25 July 1978
- People
- 👤 Jean Purdy1945–1985👤 Patrick Steptoe1913–1988👤 Robert Edwards1925–2013
- Field
- Life & health
What it is
Fertilisation of an egg outside the body and transfer of the embryo to the uterus. More than twelve million people have been born using this technique.
What it led to
- Reproductive medicine and the postponement of motherhood
- Preimplantation genetic diagnosis and bioethical debates
- Research using embryonic stem cells
Built on
- Mammalian ovum (von Baer)1827
- Video laparoscopic surgery1985-1987
- laparoscopy
- cell culture
- fertility hormones
Made possible
- Embryonic stem cells1981 / 1998
- Human embryonic stem cells and iPS cells1998-2006
- preimplantation genetic diagnosis
- egg vitrification