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First use of DNA fingerprinting to identify viable embryos: research could lead to improved pregnancy rates and fewer multiple pregnancies

14 May 2008

Researchers writing in the journal Human Reproduction have used DNA fingerprinting for the first time to identify which embryos have implanted after in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and developed successfully to result in the births of healthy babies. The technique, combined with sampling cells from blastocysts (the very early embryo) before implantation in the womb, opens the way to pin-pointing a handful of genes that could be used to identify those blastocysts most likely to result in a successful pregnancy.

From the paper
Novel strategy with potential to identify developmentally competent IVF blastocysts
Gayle M. Jones, David S. Cram, Bi Song, Georgia Kokkali, Kostas Pantos and Alan O. Trounson

Published in Human Reproduction, Advanced Access, 13th May 2008

Read the press release online

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