3D Printed Robot Can Assess Embryonic Development

Embroyonic development, or more simply the development and formation of an embryo mostly through cell division and cellular differentiation, is one of the most important biological processes on Earth. This basic step is the cornerstone of all multicellular life on the planet, from the smallest nematode worm all the way through to the largest blue whale. And insight into how the earliest stages of development, and especially how they can be impacted by environmental conditions, has become a crucial topic in recent years due to the risks posed by climate change. It is for this reason that scientists at the University of Plymouth have developed the LabEmbryoCam using 3D printing.

As it names suggests, the LabEmbryoCam is a robotic instrument that has been designed to autonomously monitor the earliest stages of development in any aquatic species. Aquatic species are expected to be some of the most affected by climate change as it will cause warming in the oceans, disturbing habitats such as what has already been done to coral reefs. The LabEmbryoCam therefore has been conceived as an accessible and scalable way to visualize and measure development in large numbers of embryos simultaneously.

The LabEmbryoCam can be used to study early embryonic development of aquatic species, such as those pictured here

Dr. Oliver Tills, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Plymouth, explained, “We developed the LabEmbryoCam to provide an accessible window on how animals put themselves together, and what impact the environment has on this. It capitalizes on enabling technologies such as 3D printing and AI. The LabEmbryoCam is enabling us, and others, to address complex research questions that were not otherwise possible. Our opensource [sic] ethos makes the capabilities that are central to our own research available to others.”