From oocyte to embryo: future biologists explored the foundations of life

From May 29 to June 2, 2025, a practical course on Experimental Work with Mammalian Oocytes and Embryos was held for master’s students of the Reproductive and Developmental Biology program at the Faculty of Science, Charles University. The aim of the course was to introduce students to techniques of isolating and cultivating mammalian oocytes and early embryos in vitro, as well as to the basics of live-cell microscopy.

The final day of the course was traditionally dedicated to a visit to the Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Liběchov. Here, participants had the opportunity to work with two state-of-the-art microscopes – a confocal microscope and a light-sheet microscope, which allows long-term imaging of mammalian embryos in high resolution and detailed 3D visualization of their internal structures. Thanks to this technology, students could observe embryo development almost in real time.

The practical course was organized within the AV21 Strategy program: The Future of Assisted Reproduction (ART), which aims to connect cutting-edge research with clinical practice in assisted reproduction. An important part of the project is also supporting the training and education of new experts, as well as raising awareness of the latest trends in reproductive medicine and biomedicine more broadly.

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