The extraordinary moment one baby becomes two

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Scientists in Japan used timelapse photography to capture the amazing images for the first time.

They recorded the development of 33 frozen embryos which had been donated for research.

Images were taken every two minutes with a digital camera attached to a microscope.

Scroll down for more...

The scientists used time-lapse photography to capture these incredible images

After thawing, 26 of the embryos developed into 'blastocysts', tiny clumps of cells no bigger than a pinhead.

Within this ball of cells a fluid-filled cavity forms, providing a 'mini-womb' in which the body of the embryo develops.

The first picture on the right shows how the expanding cluster of cells attaches to the wall of the womb in two places, before being joined by a microscopic string.

When this eventually snaps, as the second picture shows, two distinct bunches of cells are left to develop into identical twins over the next nine months.

Researchers now hope the footage will help them understand why so many IVF embryos develop into twins.

Identical twins are most likely toform when the 'blastocyst' is kept for five days or more before being transferred to the mother.

The images were released for the first time at the annual meeting of the European Society of HumanReproduction and Embryology in Lyon, France.

Researcher Dianna Payne, from the Mio Fertility Clinic in Yonago, Japan, said the pictures could help embryologists work towards avoiding twin IVF pregnancies.

"If choice of embryos is limited, the mother could be prepared for the likelihood of twins and given appropriate clinical advice.'

"If you see two inner cell masses, then I think you can be fairly sure that this is an embryo at risk of producing twins," she said.

"Then, either a decision could be made about whether to transfer those embryos, or, if the choice of embryos is limited, the mother could be prepared for the likelihood of twins and given appropriate clinical advice."

The risk of having IVF twins could potentially be removed completely, she said. twins could potentially be removed