Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore the science of fertility.  

Making babies is big business but our scientific understanding of fertilisation, pregnancy and embryo development is surprisingly limited.    

In this episode, our panel discuss emerging technologies that could shape the future of fertility and tackle audience questions on declining sperm counts, egg freezing and the ethics of genetic screening. 

Panellists:

• Joyce Harper – Professor of Reproductive Science, UCL
• Gunes Taylor – Molecular Biologist, University of Edinburgh
• Naomi Moris – Group Leader, Developmental Models Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute  
• Lucy van de Wiel – Senior Lecturer in Global Health & Social Medicine, King’s College London                                                                                                                                                  

Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/fertility

A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute

Music by John Biddle

© BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025