Editor's Summary
17 July 2008
Reproductive medicine: thirty years of IVF
A new era of reproductive medicine dawned on 25 July 1978 with the birth of Louise Brown, the first 'test-tube baby' conceived by IVF (in vitro fertilization). Ruth Deech, former head of the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, reflects on how the UK's early regulation of reproductive technologies smoothed the way towards stem cell research — and how techniques developed to counter infertility are now saving lives. In a special report, we ask experts in reproductive medicine what developments in the next 30 years could have as much impact as Brown's birth. In Blood Matters, reviewed in Books & Arts, Masha Gessen explores the dilemmas of 'genetic decision making' that gene testing and modern reproductive technologies have brought with them from the perspective of someone carrying the BRCA1 gene. See also Editorial and download the podcast at http://www.nature.com/podcast.
Editorial: Life after SuperBabe
In the 30 years since the birth of the world's first 'test tube' baby, in vitro fertilization has become commonplace. The next three decades could bring equally transformative technologies.
doi:10.1038/454253a
News: Making babies: the next 30 years
Louise Brown, the first test-tube baby, was born 30 years ago this month after being conceived outside the body using in vitro fertilization (IVF). Helen Pearson asks what developments in reproductive medicine could have an equivalent impact in the next three decades.
Helen Pearson
doi:10.1038/454260a
Books and Arts: To know or not to know?
doi:10.1038/454277a
Essay: 30 years: from IVF to stem cells
Ruth Deech, former chair of Britain's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, reflects on how the science that gave an infertile couple a baby has been extended to saving lives.
Ruth Deech
doi:10.1038/454280a
