4 cell embryo

thingiverse

A single fertilized egg is reorganizing its chromosomes into four identical cells within just two days of conception. These newly created cells begin to duplicate at a pace that can reach nearly three hundred percent over several hours. This explosive growth marks the very beginning of embryonic development. Within a matter of minutes, those identical cells start to take on specific roles - one as an inner layer and the others developing into an outer protective shell called trophoblast. These first critical cell divisions occur when that fertilized egg begins to undergo what's known as compaction: The moment a small group of tightly grouped stem cells, all with identical genetic material, start differentiating themselves to perform multiple crucial tasks. This phase, which can be likened to an extremely intense cellular ballet, sees those compact cells take center stage while other newly forming stem cells begin breaking apart from their central mass, further intensifying the speed at which cell reproduction happens within the human embryo.