Synonyms in a broader sense
germ, seedling, foetus
Definition
The term embryo comes from the Greek and means something like “to sprout” or “swell”. In medicine, the term embryo (also: seedling or germ) describes the earliest form of development in a living being. The science that deals with embryos, their development, maturation and formation of organs is called embryology.
The first trimester
From the moment when an egg is fertilized by a sperm cell, a new organism is created, which is still inside the mother or an egg shell or egg shell. In this state after fusion, the newly created life is called an embryo. It begins a phase of development (embryogenesis), which leads to a mature baby being formed in humans in about 40 weeks (calculating the date of birth). From the 9th week of pregnancy onwards, the term embryo is no longer used, but rather the fetus (foetus).
Embryo Protection Act
There are certain cells in the embryo, the so-called totipotent stem cells, which are able to divide under appropriate conditions and develop into a full-fledged organism. They therefore represent interesting material for various medical questions, but this is an area in which there are still many ethical concerns. In Germany, the Embryo Protection Act regulates what medical treatment is permitted for embryos. In Germany, for example, it is prohibited to clone human embryos or to use them for therapeutic purposes or research.