Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Fetal Circulation01:14

Fetal Circulation

4.2K
Fetal circulation is a unique system that facilitates the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the developing fetus and the mother. This intricate process takes place through a special organ called the placenta.
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
4.2K
Development of Blood Vessels01:07

Development of Blood Vessels

1.8K
The development of the vascular system in a fetus is a complex and intricate process that begins as early as 15 to 16 days post-conception. This process starts outside the embryo, specifically in the mesoderm of the yolk sac, chorion, and connecting stalk. Approximately two days later, the formation of blood vessels occurs within the embryo itself.
The initial formation of this system is facilitated by the small amount of yolk present in the ovum and yolk sac. Blood vessels originate from...
1.8K
Cleavage and Blastulation01:33

Cleavage and Blastulation

51.1K
After a large-single-celled zygote is produced via fertilization, the process of cleavage occurs while zygotes travel through the uterine tube. Cleavage is a mitotic cell division that does not result in growth. With each round of successive cell division, daughter cells get increasingly smaller.
51.1K
Gastrulation01:56

Gastrulation

68.5K
Gastrulation establishes the three primary tissues of an embryo: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This developmental process relies on a series of intricate cellular movements, which in humans transforms a flat, “bilaminar disc” composed of two cell sheets into a three-tiered structure. In the resulting embryo, the endoderm serves as the bottom layer, and stacked directly above it is the intermediate mesoderm, and then the uppermost ectoderm. Respectively, these tissue strata...
68.5K
The Anatomy of Chloroplasts01:08

The Anatomy of Chloroplasts

8.9K
Green algae and plants, including green stems and unripe fruit, harbor specialized organelles called chloroplasts to carry out photosynthesis. They coordinate both stages of photosynthesis — the light-dependent reactions and the light-independent reactions. The light-dependent reactions use sunlight to release oxygen and produce chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH, and the light-independent reactions capture CO2 and use ATP and NADPH to produce sugar.
Structure of...
8.9K
Eukaryotic Evolution01:24

Eukaryotic Evolution

43.3K
The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
43.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Susceptibility of the Placenta and Fetal Brain to Maternal Probiotic Supplementation.

Microorganisms·2026
Same author

Environmental and developmental factors shape anti-AAV immunity in pigs.

Gene therapy·2026
Same author

Myostatin inhibition from preconception through lactation improves maternal muscle and skeletal health in the osteogenesis imperfecta murine mouse model.

Bone·2026
Same author

Towards clinical translation of nanomedicines: Formulation scale-up and model systems.

Advanced drug delivery reviews·2026
Same author

Protocol for single-use Ambu aScope-based minimally invasive bronchoalveolar lavage collection in pigs.

STAR protocols·2026
Same author

Disruption of the Placenta-Brain Axis in Transgenic Mice Lacking Serotonin Transporter (SERT) in Trophoblast Cells.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026
Same journal

Toll-like Receptor 4 Knockout Mice are Protected Against PMOS-like Pathogenesis.

Reproduction (Cambridge, England)·2026
Same journal

Evidence That Heat Shock Protein A5 (HSPA5) Plays a Role During Bovine In Vitro Embryo Production.

Reproduction (Cambridge, England)·2026
Same journal

The use of isoflurane to cause multiple large Ca2+ transients in mouse eggs.

Reproduction (Cambridge, England)·2026
Same journal

Fibroblast Growth Factor 9 Promotes Rat Leydig Cell Development via H3K4me3 Histone Modifications.

Reproduction (Cambridge, England)·2026
Same journal

The RNA-binding protein Pumilio-2 has roles in the regulation of proliferation and innate immunity of human KGN granulosa tumor cells.

Reproduction (Cambridge, England)·2026
Same journal

Redefining Stallion Sperm Bioenergetics: Lessons from a Decade of Change in Mammalian Sperm Metabolism.

Reproduction (Cambridge, England)·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 16, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing Research Through Single Cell Sequencing and Spatial Histology in Placental Tissues
04:17

Author Spotlight: Advancing Research Through Single Cell Sequencing and Spatial Histology in Placental Tissues

Published on: September 8, 2023

2.1K

The evolution of the placenta.

R Michael Roberts1, Jonathan A Green2, Laura C Schulz3

  • 1C.S. Bond Life Sciences CenterUniversity of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA Division of Animal SciencesUniversity of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA robertsrm@missouri.edu.

Reproduction (Cambridge, England)
|August 4, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Placentas, vital for fetal development, evolved independently across vertebrate classes, driving evolutionary conflict and adaptation. This review explores placental evolution from nonmammalian vertebrates to mammals.

More Related Videos

Three-dimensional Rendering and Analysis of Immunolabeled, Clarified Human Placental Villous Vascular Networks
09:33

Three-dimensional Rendering and Analysis of Immunolabeled, Clarified Human Placental Villous Vascular Networks

Published on: March 29, 2018

10.4K
Mouse In Vivo Placental Targeted CRISPR Manipulation
07:39

Mouse In Vivo Placental Targeted CRISPR Manipulation

Published on: April 14, 2023

3.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 16, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing Research Through Single Cell Sequencing and Spatial Histology in Placental Tissues
04:17

Author Spotlight: Advancing Research Through Single Cell Sequencing and Spatial Histology in Placental Tissues

Published on: September 8, 2023

2.1K
Three-dimensional Rendering and Analysis of Immunolabeled, Clarified Human Placental Villous Vascular Networks
09:33

Three-dimensional Rendering and Analysis of Immunolabeled, Clarified Human Placental Villous Vascular Networks

Published on: March 29, 2018

10.4K
Mouse In Vivo Placental Targeted CRISPR Manipulation
07:39

Mouse In Vivo Placental Targeted CRISPR Manipulation

Published on: April 14, 2023

3.9K

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • The placenta is a specialized organ facilitating physiological exchange between mother and fetus.
  • Placentas have evolved independently multiple times across vertebrate lineages, excluding birds.
  • Increasing intimacy between maternal and fetal systems drives co-evolutionary conflict and adaptation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the emergence of placental structures in nonmammalian vertebrates.
  • To examine placental evolution in mammals.
  • To discuss mechanisms driving placental diversity in eutherian mammals.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of vertebrate placentation.
  • Comparative analysis of placental evolution across taxa.
  • Discussion of molecular and macromolecular evolutionary convergence.

Main Results:

  • Placental-like structures observed in various nonmammalian vertebrates.
  • Convergent evolution of placental morphology and physiology in mammals.
  • Evidence of co-evolutionary arms races between maternal and fetal systems.

Conclusions:

  • Vertebrate placentation showcases extensive convergent evolution.
  • Maternal-fetal conflict is a key driver of placental adaptation.
  • Understanding placental diversity is crucial for reproductive biology.