This program is based on the presentation held at the event LEAP - Laboratory, Embryology, & Andrology Professionals - that took place in Toronto, Canada, June 9-11, 2006.

At the end of the course the participant will have a greater knowledge on:

• History of in vitro embryo culture and embryo transfer;
• Properties of the first embryo culture media and why they worked;
• The "2-cell block" and media that overcame in vitro blocks to embryo development;
• Functions of components of successful cleavage-stage embryo culture media;
• Osmolarity;
• Media based on mimicking oviductal fluid;
• Current media for culturing human cleavage-stage embryos.