'Mini placentas' in a dish reveal key gene for pregnancy

An expectant mother lays down on an exam table in a hospital gown during a routine check-up. She has her belly exposed as the doctor palpates her abdomen to verify the position of the baby.

An enzyme made famous by the COVID-19 pandemic plays an unsung role in healthy placenta development during pregnancy, according to a new study.

The enzyme, called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), can be exploited by the novel coronavirus as a doorway into human cells. However, outside the context of COVID, ACE2 plays important roles in human health — including during pregnancy.