The Anatomy School, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience and The Centre for Trophoblast Research, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 1HW, UK.
Reprod Biomed Online. 2011 Aug;23(2):245-62. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2011.04.010. Epub 2011 May 14.
The early influences on Robert Edwards’ approach to the scientific research that led to human IVF are described. His interest as a graduate student in the genetics of early mammalian development stimulated him later to investigate whether the origins of human genetic diseases such as Down, Klinefelter and Turner syndromes might be explained by events during egg maturation. This clinical problem provided the most powerful stimulus to achieve both oocyte maturation and fertilization in vitro in humans. Indeed,preimplantation genetic diagnosis was his main goal until he met Patrick Steptoe in 1968. A re-evaluation of his meeting with Steptoe suggests that initially Steptoe’s laparoscopic skill was of interest for its potential to solve the sperm capacitation problem. Steptoe’simpact on Edwards was twofold. First, Steptoe’s long-held interest in infertility raised this application of IVF higher in Edwards’priorities. Second, Steptoe offered a long-term partnership, in which oocyte collection without in-vitro maturation was a possibility.The professional criticism generated by their work together encouraged Edwards to pursue a deliberate programme of public education about the issues raised and to challenge and develop professional bioethical thought and discourse about reproduction.
描述了早期对罗伯特·爱德华兹（Robert Edwards）进行导致人类试管婴儿的科学研究的影响。他作为一名研究生对早期哺乳动物发育遗传学的兴趣激发了他后来研究人类遗传疾病（如唐氏综合征、克兰费尔特综合征和特纳综合征）的起源是否可以通过卵母细胞成熟过程中的事件来解释。这个临床问题为他在人类中实现卵母细胞成熟和体外受精提供了最强大的刺激。事实上，直到 1968 年遇到帕特里克·斯特普托（Patrick Steptoe）之前，植入前遗传学诊断一直是他的主要目标。重新评估他与斯特普托（Steptoe）的会面表明，最初斯特普托（Steptoe）的腹腔镜技能引起了人们的兴趣，因为它有可能解决精子获能问题。斯特普托（Steptoe）对爱德华兹（Edwards）的影响是双重的。首先，斯特普托（Steptoe）长期以来对不孕症的关注使这种试管婴儿应用在爱德华兹（Edwards）的优先事项中提高了优先级。其次，斯特普托（Steptoe）提供了长期的合作伙伴关系，其中无需体外成熟即可采集卵母细胞成为可能。他们共同开展的工作所引发的专业批评促使爱德华兹（Edwards）制定了一项关于所提出问题的公开教育计划，以挑战和发展关于生殖的专业生物伦理思想和话语。
