Scientists from Queen Mary University of London and UCL have identified what they believe could be a cause of pre-term premature rupture of the fetal membrane , which accounts for 40 per cent of pre-term births, and is the main reason for infant death world-wide. The researchers, whose work was funded by the charity Wellbeing of Women, used bioengineering techniques to test the effect of repetitive stretch on tissues of the amniotic membrane which surrounds and protects the baby prior to birth.