Embryology is the science that deals with how life is formed and is included in the studies about developmental biology. Developmental biology focuses on how life forms on earth start until these life forms are functioning organs that are fully formed.

Embryology examines the start of life from the sperm or egg and studies the process of fertilization. An embryologist tracks how the embryo develops until the embryo resembles its parents.

For example, an embryologist would look at the egg and sperm for human conception. The embryologist will track how the two meets and would pay attention to the implantation of the egg cells as well as the embryo’s growth until it becomes a fetus. For the study of humans, an embryologist’s work is up until the eighth week of the mother’s pregnancy.

Embryology explained

There are embryologists who also take time to see how other organs in the body develop fully. The study of the development of the spinal cord as well as the central nervous system, for example, falls under neuroembryology. Embryology is also studied by some cardiologist to determine how the lungs and heart develop from a fertilized egg.

Epigenesis is a study that focuses on how various life forms turn into complex organisms after fertilization. It was Aristotle who was one of the first individuals to support and examine epigenesis.

One can say that embryology has developed over the years given the technological advancements. Embryology has allowed doctors to perform vitro implantation, and as such, couples who cannot produce offspring the natural way can now have kids through this method.

Embryologists are also now able to determine the risk factors for egg cells that have genetic conditions, as well as choose the best egg cell to be used for implants. Cloning is also a result of years of studying embryology.