The very first beat: How a heart starts to pulse

309,723

8,117 0

Published 2023-09-27

One moment there's nothing, the next... a heartbeat. As a vertebrate embryo grows, its heart tissue starts to pulse well before it's needed. But how does the developing heart actually co-ordinate that very first beat?

Using microscopes and glowing fluorescent proteins, researchers have been able to watch zebrafish embryos during this key point in development and examine the process in real time.

Read the paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06561-z

For more stories like these sign up for the Nature Briefing: An essential round-up of science news, opinion and analysis, free in your inbox every weekday: go.nature.com/371OcVF

All Comments (21)

@mrniceguy4277 9 months ago

This took probably many years and several PhD projects lol. Especially developing the method. Congrats to the authors of this study!
@ypcomchic 9 months ago

Such an amazing video. I remember watching a video about the guy who created this whole setup to be able to see this in the lab. He truly is a genius.
@alanmlkbanda 9 months ago

I saw the thumbnail, read the word beat and saw that shape and dark background and for real thought this was an ad for new headphones
@FutureAIDev2015 10 months ago

Also, what causes the first electrical activity in the embryonic brain? Is that also jumpstarted by noise?
@AbelDelCastilloWest 10 months ago

I couldn't help but smile when I saw and heard the first beat. mesmerizing
@AllensTrains 9 months ago

Quite interesting. I never knew that the first heartbeat was such a hit and miss affair! Thanks for uploading.
@jorn-michaelbartels9386 10 months ago

Wonderful video! Furthermore, like all nature videos, the presenter has a perfect pronounciation. Nice to listen to!
@TumbleTrashOfficial 9 months ago

props to the camera man for recording his own heart surgery.
@chairforce0ne 10 months ago

thanks for these visuals, really fascinating
@dasrahul505 9 months ago

I don't know why YouTube suggested me this, but I am glad it did
@Pyriphlegeton 10 months ago

Very interesting footage, thank you!
@MajorKoenig156 10 months ago

very nice video, thanks! i like how it presents high-level science with a slight emotional twist and remains calm in its tone
@sweetsweetganymede 9 months ago

Thank you to the researchers for enlightening us
@reversemyopia 9 months ago

Congrats for figuring this out ! I do think the explanation offered is very close to truth.
@hannesaltenfelder4302 10 months ago

The first beat of a heart is more or less by chance, because it becomes more sensitive to electric charges in the environment? Does the size of the heart matter? Does that mean, if an embryo is in an environment, where there is absolutly no electrical charge, the heart can't start to contract? Could this be the reason, why most big animals develop inside their mother? And what about... crocodiles for example? Is there a difference between cold-blooded and warm-blooded animals?
@miguelbissieres3736 9 months ago

Beautiful video. Thank you for sharing it! I am amazed.
@mujkocka 9 months ago

This is a very good question! I never thought to ask!
@brainstormingsharing1309 10 months ago

Always keep it up! 👍
@heiiwjwbebidosbeiwojwjeheh6046 9 months ago

one of the most beautiful things i have seen
@batgh0ul 8 months ago

man, nature is weird as hell. i find it so cool how things aren't at all a pattern, like the cells starting to beat at different times, from different spots, just as a consequence of growing at their own unique time. randomness is beautiful.