The Natural History Research and Museum Center at the University of Baghdad, with the support and guidance of its director, Assistant Professor Dr. Hanaa Hani Al-Saffar, organized a workshop entitled “A Journey into Embryology: Exploring Embryonic Development” on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The workshop was facilitated by Assistant Lecturer Ali Kamel Wanas and presented by Assistant Lecturer Noor Hussein Yousif.
The workshop highlighted embryonic development and the transformation of cells from the fertilization stage to the fully formed embryo. It identified the precise timelines (germ, embryo, and full-term) of tissue and organ development during early pregnancy, along with the accompanying hormonal, histological, and anatomical changes. The workshop also compared embryos from different organisms to find evidence of evolution and relatedness between species.
The workshop aimed to understand the stages of normal development, uncover the causes of congenital malformations and their relation to the development of reproductive medicine, understand the evolutionary basis (the science of evolution), and finally, study the impact of the environment on the embryo. The workshop’s most important recommendations emphasized the need to understand congenital anomalies and link them to biological evolutionary evidence, along with embryological theory. This understanding enhances our comprehension of how prenatal and postnatal environmental conditions influence healthy development from childhood to adulthood (latency, stability, and genetic programming) through genetic control.
The workshop also highlighted Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 3 (Good Health and Well-being). We wish all the faculty members at our center continued success in serving the community, science, and knowledge.
