Professor Chang Min-chueh, a trailblazer in reproductive biology, is renowned for creating the first test-tube mice and rabbits, and for identifying the phenomenon of sperm capacitation. Although modern research has revealed additional molecular mechanisms in fertilization, rendering the traditional concept of “capacitation” more nuanced, Chang’s foundational insight—that sperm must undergo a specific preparatory state (which he termed “capacitation”) to fertilize an egg—remains pivotal. This discovery laid the groundwork for in vitro fertilization (IVF) by establishing the biological prerequisite for successful fertilization.
Robert Geoffrey Edwards: The Father of IVF
British embryologist Robert Geoffrey Edwards revolutionized reproductive medicine with the world’s first IVF baby, Louise Brown, born on July 25, 1978. Using laparoscopy to retrieve eggs, Edwards performed IVF and transferred the embryo to the fallopian tube just one day after fertilization, overcoming the mother’s tubal obstruction. His work earned him the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, cementing IVF as a viable treatment for infertility.
Zhang Lizhu: China’s IVF Trailblazer
In 1988, Professor Zhang Lizhu of Peking University Third Hospital achieved China’s first IVF success with the birth of Zheng Mengzhu. Despite facing technical barriers and limited access to foreign expertise, Zhang pioneered IVF using homemade tools (including hand-ground egg retrieval needles) and domestic reagents. Her achievement marked the beginning of China’s rapid advancement in assisted reproduction, trailing the global first by a decade but later emerging as a leader in cutting-edge technologies.
China’s Leading-edge Innovations in Assisted Reproduction
1. Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)
China has made significant strides in third-generation IVF technologies, categorized as:
PGT-A (Aneuploidy Testing): Widely used globally for chromosomal abnormalities, China has conducted
extensive research in this area.
PGT-M (Monogenic Disorder Testing): Targets single-gene diseases.
PGT-P (Polygenic Disorder Testing): Focuses on multigene conditions. Professor Huang Hefeng’s team pioneered PGT-P by screening out diabetes-related genes in embryos, reducing offspring risk of hereditary diabetes.
2. PIMS Technology: Epigenetic Screening
Invented by Professors Chen Zijiang and Liu Jiang, the Preimplantation Methylation Screening (PIMS) technology analyzes embryonic DNA methylation—an epigenetic modification unrelated to DNA sequence changes. By detecting these modifications, PIMS enhances IVF success rates to over 80%, offering a novel approach to optimize embryo selection.
3. Non-Invasive Preimplantation Diagnosis
Professor Xie Xiaoliang developed a non-invasive technique using blastocyst culture fluid to analyze embryonic DNA. By reconstructing genetic information from fluid samples, this method avoids direct embryo manipulation, representing a breakthrough in safe and accurate preimplantation diagnosis.
Conclusion
While China lagged a decade in IVF adoption, its rapid innovation—particularly in PGT variants, epigenetic screening (PIMS), and non-invasive diagnostics—has positioned the nation as a global leader in assisted reproduction. These advancements, built on the foundational work of pioneers like Chang Min-chueh, Edwards, and Zhang Lizhu, highlight China’s commitment to overcoming infertility through scientific excellence and technological ingenuity.
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