Abnormal Chromosomes Identified With Pre-Implantation Genetic Screening

PGS testing helps screen abnormalities in the embryo during IVF, as majority of abnormal embryos are indistinguishable from normal embryos.

Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGS) is a process that ensures healthy baby during In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). PGS refers to removing a cell from an IVF embryo to test it for a specific genetic condition before transferring the embryo to the uterus, reveals a new study. //

According to the study by Igenomix, world's giant in reproductive genetic laboratory, majority of abnormal embryos are indistinguishable from normal embryos. PGS testing helps IVF physicians and patients decide which embryos to transfer.

Self-Correcting Mechanism In Embryos
US scientists have discovered a self-correcting mechanism in embryos. The findings have significant implications for pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) during fertility treatment.

‘Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGS) increases implantation, reduces miscarriages, and enhances the chance of delivering a healthy baby.’

The study, says that normal embryo appearance cannot be used to evaluate for chromosome abnormalities.

"For women in their mid-thirties and older, the risk of chromosome abnormalities is significantly higher than for younger women. Women with a history of recurrent miscarriage or recurrent implantation failure, or who have had a prior pregnancy with a chromosome abnormality, or men with abnormal sperm analysis may also create a higher percentage of abnormal embryos," said Rajni Khajuria, Laboratory Manager at Igenomix.

Among the advantages PGS test has are increase in implantation rate, reduction in miscarriage rate, and increase in the chance of delivering a healthy baby.

Technology Falls Short To Screen Embryos Before Implantation
Hoping to prevent a bitter loss, a growing percentage of infertility patients using IVF have turned to PGS.

According to medical sciences, over 50 percent of spontaneous miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormalities.

"Some birth defects are caused by chromosome abnormalities, and the risks of having a child with a chromosome abnormality increases with maternal age," said Khajuria.

Two-Cell Mouse Embryos are Planning Their Future: Bioengineering Study
Mouse embryos are contemplating their cellular fates in the earliest stages after fertilization, when the embryo has only two to four cells, discovered bioengineers at the University of California.

PGS for aneuploidy screening also increases pregnancy success for couples where the man has an abnormal sperm analysis.

"For couples who experience male-factor infertility, approximately 55-65 percent of embryos may be chromosomally abnormal, depending on the severity of the male factor," said the study.

Genetic Makeup of Human and Mouse Embryos in Amazing Detail Analyzed By UCLA and Chinese Scientists
The powerful technology of single-cell RNA sequencing to track the genetic development of a human and a mouse embryo at an unprecedented level of accuracy was used by UCLA scientists.

Source-IANS