Passage 1 In vitro fertilization: four decades of reflections and promises The announcement of the birth of louise brown in 1978 through in vitro fertilization (Vf) was a major milestone in the treatment of infertile couples This historic moment was eloquently encapsulated by Howard Jones who observed: " Eleven forty-seven p. m. Tuesday, July 25, 1978, was surely a unique moment in the life of Patrick Steptoe. This was the hour and minute he delivered Louise Brown, the worlds first baby, meticulously, lovingly, and aseptically conceived in the laboratory, but popularly referred to as the worlds first test tube baby. This midnight minute was surely a mighty moment, not only for Patrick Steptoe, but also for his scientific partner, Robert Edwards, and for their associates". The importance of this birth to scientists, clinicians and most particularly infertile patients throughout the world cannot be overstated This milestone is considered to be one of the major medical/scientific achievements of the twentieth century. It was the culmination of many years of work that had been simultaneously carried out in a number of centers worldwide, principally the United Kingdom, the United States and australia Most of the background originated from Robert Edwards' long and enduring efforts over the previous 20 years THE STORY OF ROBERT EDWARDS. NOBEL LAUREATE IN MEDICINE 2010. AND THE FIRST HUMAN IVF Edwards' interest in human IVF arose during his graduate studies at Edinburgh University in the early 1950s. The fundamental basis of reproductive physiology intrigued Edwards, and early in his career he conducted numerous experiments in mice exploring meiosis, ovulation fertilization, cleavage of embryos to the blastocyst stage, implantation, fetal growth to full term and studies on altering the chromosomal complements in embryos. This comprehensive enthusiasm for spermatozoa and eggs later proved his real ambition, which was to work with human gametes and embryos and on human infertility. An intriguing possibility emerged from his studies namely that infertile couples might be helped to have their own children by means of IVF. However. at that time human ivf was regarded as an impossibility. The thought of bringing human fertilization and embryology into scientific and medical practice was regarded with incredulity Lesley Brown was the second patient Patrick Steptoe, a gynecologist, and Robert edwards treated in a natural cycle; her single oocyte was aspirated laparoscopically, inseminated quickly and transferred precisely when it reached the eight-cell stage. Edwards hoped that earlier transfer would benefit from the embryos spending less time in vitro. After a successful pregnancy, Louise Brown was born on 25 July 1978 on a momentous evening in Oldham. In thePassage 1 In Vitro Fertilization: Four Decades of Reflections and Promises The announcement of the birth of Louise Brown in 1978 through in vitro fertilization (IVF) was a major milestone in the treatment of infertile couples. This historic moment was eloquently encapsulated by Howard Jones who observed: “Eleven forty-seven p.m. Tuesday, July 25, 1978, was surely a unique moment in the life of Patrick Steptoe. This was the hour and minute he delivered Louise Brown, the world’s first baby, meticulously, lovingly, and aseptically conceived in the laboratory, but popularly referred to as ‘the world’s first test tube baby’. This midnight minute was surely a mighty moment, not only for Patrick Steptoe, but also for his scientific partner, Robert Edwards, and for their associates”. The importance of this birth to scientists, clinicians and most particularly infertile patients throughout the world cannot be overstated. This milestone is considered to be one of the major medical/scientific achievements of the twentieth century. It was the culmination of many years of work that had been simultaneously carried out in a number of centers worldwide, principally the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. Most of the background originated from Robert Edwards’ long and enduring efforts over the previous 20 years. THE STORY OF ROBERT EDWARDS, NOBEL LAUREATE IN MEDICINE 2010, AND THE FIRST HUMAN IVF Edwards’ interest in human IVF arose during his graduate studies at Edinburgh University in the early 1950s. The fundamental basis of reproductive physiology intrigued Edwards, and early in his career he conducted numerous experiments in mice exploring meiosis, ovulation, fertilization, cleavage of embryos to the blastocyst stage, implantation, fetal growth to full term and studies on altering the chromosomal complements in embryos. This comprehensive enthusiasm for spermatozoa and eggs later proved his real ambition, which was to work with human gametes and embryos and on human infertility. An intriguing possibility emerged from his studies, namely that infertile couples might be helped to have their own children by means of IVF. However, at that time human IVF was regarded as an impossibility. The thought of bringing human fertilization and embryology into scientific and medical practice was regarded with incredulity. Lesley Brown was the second patient Patrick Steptoe, a gynecologist, and Robert Edwards treated in a natural cycle; her single oocyte was aspirated laparoscopically, inseminated quickly and transferred precisely when it reached the eight-cell stage. Edwards hoped that earlier transfer would benefit from the embryos spending less time in vitro. After a successful pregnancy, Louise Brown was born on 25 July 1978 on a momentous evening in Oldham. In the