What if you could stop babies being born with genetic defects? According to research conducted in America, scientists have estimated that one in every 200 babies born will suffer from a single-gene disorder. This results in babies being born with genetically-inherited disorders due to one or two carrier parents. The scientists at the Genetics and In Vitro Fertilisation Institute in Fairfax, Virginia have developed numerous genetic innovations including that of creating embryos free from genetically inherited diseases. The way this is done is through tracking an inherited DNA segment from the parents to an embryo. Scientists are then able to conclude if the embryo of interest is affected with one of several genetic diseases.
This very same institute that has revolutionised IVF is currently working on a test called 24 Chromosome testing that can detect 18000 diseases prior to implanting embryos. Once available, this will revolutionise and change the face of IVF forever as it will greatly reduce the number of babies born with inherited diseases and yield healthy babies with little risk of carrier parents passing on defects. All this would not be called genetic engineering, rather genetic screening as scientists are in no way modifying embryos but selecting the healthiest embryos. For families with histories of inherited diseases, this scientific breakthrough could be the answer they’ve been waiting for and improve the quality life for all.
Josephine Fong (42054786)
Original article: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/01/earlyshow/health/main5355659.shtml
