UCL Lunch Hour Lecture: Genetic testing in the 21st century: Should we screen the human embryonic genome before implantation?
Dr Joyce Harper (UCL Centre for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis)
In preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), embryos are created by IVF and cells removed from these embryos for genetic analysis. Until recently, testing was solely for the disease the couple carried. The use of array-comparative genomic hybridisation and single nucleotide polymorphism arrays has entered the PGD arena. These techniques allow all chromosomes and many genes to be examined. The analysis of the whole genome prior to implantation brings ethical concerns. Will healthy couples opt for PGD to select their 'best' offspring?
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