Screening embryos may unfold secrets of genetic diseases. A revolutionary “universal test” developed by British scientist, which is suitable for prospective couples to screen embryos for almost any known genetic disease.
The £1500 ($3630) test, which should be available as early as next year, will allow couples at risk of passing on gene defects to conceive healthy children using IVF treatment.
It involves creating embryos by IVF and removing a single cell from each when they are two days old. The cells are tested using a technique known as karyomapping before a healthy embryo is implanted.
Identifications of multiple genetic variations would help scientists to determine future risk of the embryos towards diabetes, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer disease or serious disorders like cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and Huntington’s disease etc.
Thus this test would improve the chances of pregnancy for those who are infertile by selecting 
embryos that stand the best chance of developing normally.
However, Such applications would first have to be approved by the regulator. That would raise privacy issues by revealing sensitive health information about children who could not give consent.
Source: Times-On-Line [www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article5004106.ece]
Filed under Advocacy, Alzheimer, Breast, Cancer, Diabetes, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Gynecology, Heart, Heart Disease, Preterm delivery
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Screening embryos may unfold secrets of genetic diseases. A revolutionary “universal test” developed by British scientist, which is suitable for prospective couples to screen embryos for almost any known genetic disease.
