title: Thoughts on embryo culture conditions.
abstract: This review discusses three topics: (i) the 'back to nature' and empirical optimization approaches to the design of chemically defined media for the culture of preimplantation embryos, (ii) the evolution of the simplex optimized family of media, and (iii) adaptation and stress in preimplantation embryos when placed in chemically defined media.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. john_biggers@hms.harvard.edu
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Biggers
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D003470:Culture Media; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins