WIKIMEDIA, ERNEST FAbnormalities in the DNA of embryos account for the two-thirds failure rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF)—a procedure where eggs are fertilized by sperm in a dish, then later implanted in the uterus. Genetic tests exist to screen for embryos with chromosomal or genetic defects prior to implantation, but the tests are expensive and have drawbacks. Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a relatively inexpensive next-generation sequencing technique that overcomes the limitations of previous tests, and has already been used in the IVF procedure that resulted in the birth of a baby boy in May. The research was reported Monday (July 8) at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in London.
The new sequencing technique allows researchers to examine each embryo created with IVF for abnormal numbers of chromosomes, individual gene mutations, and mitochondrial genome mutations. The analysis can be completed in only 16 hours, meaning embryos do not need to be frozen awaiting test outcomes. The researchers claim the new test will be cheaper than current screening procedures, which can cost thousands of dollars.
“Next-generation sequencing improves our ability to detect these abnormalities and helps us identify the embryos with the best chances of producing a viable pregnancy,” said Dagan Wells, a molecular geneticist at the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at the University of Oxford, in a statement. “Potentially, this should lead to improved IVF success rates and a lower risk of miscarriage.”
The new ...
