Kyoto Collection in The Anatomical Record

Area of Science:

• Human Embryology
• Developmental Biology
• Reproductive Medicine

Background:

• Human embryology research relies on historical collections like Carnegie and Blechshmidt.
• The Kyoto Collection of Human Embryos and Fetuses is the world's largest, containing 1044 serial sections (547 normal, 497 abnormal cases).

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the historical development and analytical methodologies applied to the Kyoto Collection.
• To highlight the evolution of techniques from morphological analysis to advanced geometric morphometrics and genetic analysis.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of morphological changes using serial tissue sections.
• Application of traditional morphometrics for quantitative shape analysis.
• Introduction of geometric morphometrics for improved visualization of shape changes.
• DNA extraction and genetic analysis of samples from the 2000s to 2010s.

Main Results:

• The Kyoto Collection provides a unique resource for studying both normal and abnormal human embryonic and fetal development.
• Morphological analysis has been the primary method due to the nature of the collection.
• Genetic analysis has been successfully performed on samples, yielding DNA base pair data.

Conclusions:

• The Kyoto Collection is a vital asset for human embryology research, offering extensive morphological and genetic data.
• Advancements in analytical methods, including geometric morphometrics and genetic sequencing, continue to enhance research possibilities.
• Future technological innovations are expected to further unlock the potential of this invaluable collection.