Preimplantation genetic diagnosis

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Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis

File:Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis.jpg
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a procedure used prior to implantation to help identify genetic defects within embryos. This serves to prevent certain genetic diseases or disorders from being passed on to the child. The embryos used in PGD are usually created during the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF).

History[edit | edit source]

PGD was first successfully performed by Alan Handyside and colleagues in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. The first PGD baby was born in 1990. Since then, the technique has been improved and refined, and is now offered at numerous fertility clinics worldwide.

Procedure[edit | edit source]

The PGD process begins with the normal process of IVF that includes egg retrieval and fertilization in a laboratory. Over the next three to five days, the embryos grow in the laboratory until they reach the blastocyst stage of development that usually contains about 100 cells.

Some cells are removed from each embryo and then tested for specific genetic disorders. Depending on the results of these tests, the doctor will then decide which embryos to transfer to the woman's uterus.

Benefits[edit | edit source]

PGD can test for more than 100 different genetic conditions. The procedure is considered to be a major advancement in the field of genetic testing and reproductive health. It allows parents who may be carriers of genetic conditions to reduce the risk of passing these conditions onto their children.

Risks and Ethical Considerations[edit | edit source]

While PGD can reduce the risk of having a child with a genetic disorder, it cannot eliminate this risk completely. There are also potential risks to the embryos during the testing process. Ethical considerations include the potential for sex selection, and the fate of embryos that are not implanted.

See Also[edit | edit source]

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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD