An international journal, produced on web and in paper copy, devoted to biomedical research and ethical issues surrounding human conception and the welfare of the human embryo. The period of human embryonic growth covered is between the formation of the primordial germ cells in the fetus until mid-pregnancy. High quality research on lower animals is included if it helps to clarify the human situation. Studies progressing to birth and later are published if they have a direct bearing on events in the earlier stages of pregnancy. Relevant topics include fertility and infertility, contraception, IVF and assisted reproduction, the preimplantation diagnosis of genetic disease, cloning, embryo stem cells, implantation and organogenesis, miscarriage, genetic disorders afflicting the embryo, and their alleviation, fetal operations and treatments, and the growth of embryos affected by these processes to term. Ethical and political topics arising through the treatment and care of various clinical conditions are presented. Counselling, news from wide sources, interviews with leading scientists and clinicians, replies to patients'' queries, a manufacturers'' corner, job opportunities, and other matters of relevance to the journal''s fields of study will be presented on web, paper or both. Patients will not be counselled about their condition.