Discovery may enhance embryo testing for genetic conditions prior to IVF

Lead researcher

Dr L Wang

Main finding

A new molecular strategy was designed to identify genetic reciprocal translocations in human IVF embryos as carriers or non-carriers and to show selection of non-carrier embryos would develop to normal babies. The method was successful, resulting in a genetically normal girl baby. The method could be used in pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to assist couples to have babies unaffected by a genetic disorder through IVF.

Centre

Centre for Cancer Research

Research group

Cancer Immunotherapy

Co-authors

Wang L, Shen J, Cram DS, Ma M, Wang H, Zhang W, Fan J, Gao Z, Zhang L, Li Z, Xu M, Leigh DA, Trounson AO, Liu J, Yao Y.

Journal and article title

Fertility and Sterility

Preferential selection and transfer of euploid noncarrier embryos in preimplantation genetic diagnosis cycles for reciprocal translocations.

Most surprising

The method worked in 9 out of 11 patients

Future implications

This technique is one that could be adopted by IVF clinics globally.

Disease/health impact

Reproduction