--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My first ideas of human in vitro…" description: "\"My first ideas of human in vitro fertilization (IVF) arose with my Ph.D. in Edinburgh University in the early 1950s. Supervised by Alan Beatty, my rese..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/robert-edwards-45357_alan_my-first-ideas-of-human-in-vitro-fertili_3163288.jpg" --- # My first ideas of human in vitro fertilization (IVF) arose… ![“My first ideas of human in vitro fertilization (IVF) arose with my Ph.D. in Edinburgh University in the early 1950s. Supervised by Alan Beatty, my research was based on his work on altering chromosomal complements in mouse embryos.” quote by Robert Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/robert-edwards-45357_alan_my-first-ideas-of-human-in-vitro-fertili_3163288.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/robert-edwards-45357_alan_my-first-ideas-of-human-in-vitro-fertili_3163288.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/robert-edwards-45357_alan_my-first-ideas-of-human-in-vitro-fertili_3163288.jpg) > “My first ideas of human in vitro fertilization (IVF) arose with my Ph.D. in Edinburgh University in the early 1950s. Supervised by Alan Beatty, my research was based on his work on altering chromosomal complements in mouse embryos.” [Robert Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-edwards/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The researcher recounts early IVF concept origins during Ph.D. work, highlighting Alan Beatty's influence on chromosome manipulation in mouse embryos. **In simple terms:** Early IVF ideas stemmed from doctoral research on mouse embryos. Key Takeaway Foundations of IVF began with basic embryology research. Themes scientific discovery ethics reproductive technology Mood thoughtful historical Type scientific ethical When to use this quote - medical research - fertility clinics - academic mentorship Key Concepts genetics developmental biology Questions to Reflect On - How did early animal studies shape human IVF? - What ethical safeguards are needed today? A Different Perspective Ethical debates on manipulating human embryos persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Altering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altering/) [Edinburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edinburgh/) [Embryos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embryos/) [Fertilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fertilization/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Mouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouse/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I am the celebrity spokesperson for Resolve, the national infertility association, and my three precious children were born through infertility procedures. I struggled for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-margolis/i-am-the-celebrity-spokesperson-for-resolve-the-national-infertility/) [Cindy Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-margolis/) > [ It \[an ethical problem with in vitro fertilization\] depends on whether you're talking ethics from the standpoint of some religious denomination or from just… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-steptoe/it-an-ethical-problem-with-in-vitro-fertilization-depends-on-whether/) Patrick Steptoe > [If you are in support of in vitro fertilization, then you have to recognize that human embryos are being created in excess of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/if-you-are-in-support-of-in-vitro-fertilization-then-you-have-to/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Nobody knew in advance that in vitro fertilization would be, by and large, safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/nobody-knew-in-advance-that-in-vitro-fertilization-would-be-by-and/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [We should protect life but I'm not interested in anything that restricts birth control. And I'm not interested in anything that restricts in vitro…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-should-protect-life-but-i-m-not-interested-in-anything-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [“Is in vitro fertilization where you have all the fun in a glass house?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-steven-bottomley/is-in-vitro-fertilization-where-you-have-all-the-fun-in-a-glass-house/) [Dr Steven Bottomley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-steven-bottomley/) > [ \[Gilda Radner\] was in the in vitro fertilization program, and it nearly, nearly drove us apart, too. She wanted that baby, so badly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/gilda-radner-was-in-the-in-vitro-fertilization-program-and-it-nearly/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [Each year thousands of embryos, no bigger than the head of a pin, are created in the process of in vitro fertilization, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-capps/each-year-thousands-of-embryos-no-bigger-than-the-head-of-a-pin-are/) [Lois Capps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-capps/) > [We are the party of hard working parents and families and we want to give you and your children the opportunities to thrive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/we-are-the-party-of-hard-working-parents-and-families-and-we-want-to/) [Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/) > [Strangely enough, for me, Instagram has been a creatively freeing and inspiring format lately. I have been so very resistant to nearly all forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guinevere-van-seenus/strangely-enough-for-me-instagram-has-been-a-creatively-freeing-and/) [Guinevere Van Seenus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guinevere-van-seenus/) > [One-third of all female infertility is the result of blocked fallopian tubes. If fertilization could be done in the lab and then the fertilized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-d-watson/one-third-of-all-female-infertility-is-the-result-of-blocked/) [James D. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-d-watson/) > [Fundamentalism is rigorously and systematically used to indoctrinate and subjugate young minds. It is a contraceptive designed to prevent intellectual fertilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/fundamentalism-is-rigorously-and-systematically-used-to-indoctrinate/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [Like the 'test tube babies' born of in vitro fertilization, cloned children need not be identifiable, much less freaks or outcasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/like-the-test-tube-babies-born-of-in-vitro-fertilization-cloned/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [Although life is a continuous process, fertilization is a critical landmark because, under ordinary circumstances, a new, genetically distinct human organism is thereby formed……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronan-o-rahilly/although-life-is-a-continuous-process-fertilization-is-a-critical/) Ronan O'Rahilly > [“A word is not filling in the gaps, but the fertilization of silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/a-word-is-not-filling-in-the-gaps-but-the-fertilization-of-silence/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) ## More by Robert Edwards > [My genetic interests persist in the area of the control of human development. Something must be fundamentally flawed with a reproductive system that allows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-edwards/my-genetic-interests-persist-in-the-area-of-the-control-of-human/) [Robert Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-edwards/) > [Increasingly committed to human studies, I sought to collect several immature human oocytes from pieces of excised ovarian tissue, mature and fertilize them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-edwards/increasingly-committed-to-human-studies-i-sought-to-collect-several/) [Robert Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-edwards/) > [I wanted to find out exactly who was in charge, whether it was God Himself or whether it was scientists in the laboratory. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-edwards/i-wanted-to-find-out-exactly-who-was-in-charge-whether-it-was-god/) [Robert Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-edwards/) > [“Since we cannot move Leningrad ... then we must move the border.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-edwards/since-we-cannot-move-leningrad-then-we-must-move-the-border/) [Robert Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-edwards/) > [“we concentrate our army into an enormous fist. The very fact that such a fist exists will prevent the enemy from dispersing his forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-edwards/we-concentrate-our-army-into-an-enormous-fist-the-very-fact-that-such/) [Robert Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-edwards/) > [The most important thing in life is having a child. Nothing is more special than a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-edwards/the-most-important-thing-in-life-is-having-a-child-nothing-is-more/) [Robert Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-edwards/) > [It struck me what we should be trying to do was pluck the egg from the ovary and fertilise it in the laboratory. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-edwards/it-struck-me-what-we-should-be-trying-to-do-was-pluck-the-egg-from/) [Robert Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-edwards/) > [Louise Brown's birth marked the end of the beginning of human IVF, acclaimed at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. This event was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-edwards/louise-brown-s-birth-marked-the-end-of-the-beginning-of-human-ivf/) [Robert Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-edwards/) [Explore all 9 Robert Edwards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-edwards/) ## More Alan quotes > [You can't have Alan Partridge as Eddie the Eagle!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-the-eagle/you-can-t-have-alan-partridge-as-eddie-the-eagle/) [Eddie the Eagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-the-eagle/) > [My friendship with the great actor and director Alan Rickman did not have a particularly auspicious start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/my-friendship-with-the-great-actor-and-director-alan-rickman-did-not/) [Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/) > [“Alan prayed she wasn’t complying from some sense of obligation. He didn’t want that, but neither could he bear for her to leave him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/alan-prayed-she-wasn-t-complying-from-some-sense-of-obligation-he/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [I had written a tune called 'Shake, Rattle and Roll,' but the white stations refused to play it - they thought it was low-class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-stone/i-had-written-a-tune-called-shake-rattle-and-roll-but-the-white/) [Jesse Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-stone/) > [“Alan:I used rabbit-skin glue to size the panels. I got it from the art shop. I don’t know if they use real rabbits in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/alan-i-used-rabbit-skin-glue-to-size-the-panels-i-got-it-from-the-art/) [J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/) > [I've played under Alan Pardew, Gianfranco Zola, Avram Grant, Sam Allardyce, Alan Curbishley and Slaven's made me captain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-noble/i-ve-played-under-alan-pardew-gianfranco-zola-avram-grant-sam/) [Mark Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-noble/) > [“It's going to come to fists eventually.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-jones/it-s-going-to-come-to-fists-eventually/) [Carrie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-jones/) > [I love 'Love Actually' and particularly the story with Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson. I think it's possibly the best exploration of infidelity that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-requa/i-love-love-actually-and-particularly-the-story-with-alan-rickman-and/) [John Requa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-requa/) > [I fell in love with Alan Ayckbourn the day I met him and, starting with 'The Norman Conquests,' went on to do eight plays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-fell-in-love-with-alan-ayckbourn-the-day-i-met-him-and-starting/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [“Alan shook his head. Jeremy was hopeless. Either he’d find an equally soft-headed girl and they’d live happily ever after like two cooing doves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/alan-shook-his-head-jeremy-was-hopeless-either-he-d-find-an-equally/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“As he left Chinatown behind, Alan thought of the woman he’d seen on the wharf the other day, the golden splendor of her gown,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/as-he-left-chinatown-behind-alan-thought-of-the-woman-he-d-seen-on/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [Alan White and I spent the next two or three years working together on this. We developed what is known a stochastic volatility model.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hull/alan-white-and-i-spent-the-next-two-or-three-years-working-together/) [John Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hull/) > [Alan Arkin is a good cook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-margret/alan-arkin-is-a-good-cook/) [Ann-Margret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-margret/) > [Alan Carr - I love him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefflon-don/alan-carr-i-love-him/) [Stefflon Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefflon-don/) > [“It's the closest place to Exeter they could have chosen," Alan said. "We can pick up Mae and Jamie on the way." Nick rolled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/it-s-the-closest-place-to-exeter-they-could-have-chosen-alan-said-we/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) Browse all 77 Alan quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My first ideas of human in vitro fertilization (IVF) arose with my Ph.D. in Edinburgh University in the early 1950s. Supervised by Alan Beatty, my research was based on his work on altering chromosomal complements in mouse embryos.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Edwards" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-edwards/my-first-ideas-of-human-in-vitro-fertilization-ivf-arose-with-my-ph-d/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alan" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-edwards/my-first-ideas-of-human-in-vitro-fertilization-ivf-arose-with-my-ph-d/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/robert-edwards-45357_alan_my-first-ideas-of-human-in-vitro-fertili_3163288.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/robert-edwards-45357_alan_my-first-ideas-of-human-in-vitro-fertili_3163288.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/231/robert-edwards-45357_alan_my-first-ideas-of-human-in-vitro-fertili_3163288.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My first ideas of human in vitro fertilization (IVF) arose with my Ph.D. in Edinburgh University in the…” — Robert Edwards", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Edwards", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-edwards/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My first ideas of human in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-edwards/my-first-ideas-of-human-in-vitro-fertilization-ivf-arose-with-my-ph-d/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-edwards/my-first-ideas-of-human-in-vitro-fertilization-ivf-arose-with-my-ph-d/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```