IVF

Experts Move Closer to Identifying Best Embryos

Scientists in Australia and Greece appear to be moving closer to identifying genes that determine which test-tube embryos stand the best chance of implanting in the womb and growing into healthy babies. There is currently no way of telling which embryos are likely to develop into successful pregnancies from those that fail to even attach themselves in the womb. Multiple pregnancies can be dangerous to both the mother and the babies. Writing in the journal Human Reproduction, scientists in Australia said they may have obtained a better idea of the profile of embryos that stand a better chance of developing into healthy babies. Scientists feel that even if the predictive value is increased by just 20 per cent, it will be a massive bonus to encourage people to accepting (single) embryo transfer without a loss of pregnancy outcome. The scientists later matched the DNA fingerprints with babies that were born and found they all contained genes that were involved in cell adhesion, cell communication, cellular metabolic processes and response to stimuli. The team aims to narrow the list of genes to just five to 10.

Reuters