A new test developed by Genomic Prediction could trigger ethical debate around genetic correction of human embryos. Soon a couple who decided to resort to in vitro fertilization (IVF), will be able to cull the “bad” embryos, or on the contrary to select “quality”, with signs of high intelligence.
In the IVF process used female egg and sperm samples, which are joined in a laboratory environment. As a result, the fertilized egg becomes the embryo, which is placed in the uterus of a native or surrogate mother. Specialists can take up to 30 eggs, of which one third are high – quality, and will be formed of 2-3 of the embryo to its implantation in the uterus.
According to co-founder of Genomic Prediction Steven su, researchers need to 10 fertilized eggs to determine embryo with a genetic risk. They have developed test provides the opportunity to “reject” dubious embryos with signs of some genetic disorders, e.g. down’s syndrome or Patau.
According to opponents, this test is quite controversial, because it is impossible to obtain accurate estimates is just to allocate risk. In some countries, particularly in the UK genetic screening is prohibited. However, in the U.S. such a ban no, what allows companies like Genomic Prediction to conduct experiments on the testing of embryos in the IVF process.
Source — New Scientist