Fiche publication
Date publication
octobre 2026
Journal
Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics
Lien Pubmed
Résumé
The year 2026 marks the 150th anniversary of Oscar Hertwig's demonstration that fertilisation results from the fusion of sperm and oocyte, a discovery that fundamentally transformed biology and medicine. This historical review retraces the intellectual journey from ancient philosophical and theological interpretations of conception through the theories of spontaneous generation, preformationism, and the discovery of spermatozoa, culminating in Hertwig's experimental demonstration of gamete fusion in 1876. It examines how successive advances in embryology, reproductive physiology, genetics, and molecular biology progressively replaced speculation with experimental evidence, establishing the scientific basis of human reproduction. The review further describes how these discoveries enabled the development of assisted reproductive technologies, including artificial insemination, in vitro fertilisation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, gamete cryopreservation, and gamete donation, profoundly changing the management of infertility. By linking historical milestones with their clinical consequences, this article highlights how fundamental biological discoveries have continuously driven therapeutic innovation and illustrates the enduring impact of Hertwig's work on modern reproductive medicine and the lives of millions of patients worldwide. One hundred and sixteen years separate Oscar Hertwig's demonstration of fertilisation in 1876 from the introduction of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in 1992. Between these two landmarks lies one of the most remarkable scientific and clinical journeys in reproductive medicine.
Référence
J Assist Reprod Genet. 2026 10 25;:
