漫长而艰辛的“试管婴儿”之路——2010年度诺贝尔生理学或医学奖成果简介

 “试管婴儿之父”罗伯特·爱德华兹（Robert G. Edwards）获得2010年度诺贝尔生理学或医学奖，以表彰他在体外受精（IVF）技术方面的杰出贡献。早在20世纪50年代，爱德华兹便提出通过体外受精治疗人类不育的设想：即从女性卵巢内取出卵子，与精子在细胞培养皿中完成受精，然后再移植回母体子宫内发育。他们经过漫长而艰辛的努力实现了这一目标，1978年世界第一例“试管婴儿”出生。这项技术给全世界大约10%的不育症夫妇带来希望。一门新的医学领域（辅助生殖技术）由此诞生，开启现代医学的新世界。

The Long and Bumpy Road to Human in vitro Fertilization: An Introduction to the Achievements of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer innovator Robert G. Edwards wins the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, for outstanding contributions to the technology of in vitro fertilization. Working with Dr. Patrick Steptoe, Edwards developed the techniques of IVF-ET for removing mature eggs from a woman's ovaries, fertilizing them in test tubes and inducing them to begin dividing before implanting them back in the mother. After a long and bumpy efforts, in 1978, comes the birth of the first "test tube baby" of the world, both demonstrating the success and the safety of the technique and bringing hope to infertile patients, who are estimated to constitute 10% of all couples world-wide. A new medical area (Assisted Reproductive Techniques, ART) was also born, and a new world was opened.