Pgd : Pre Implantation Genetic Diagnosis

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a form of genetic testing. It is similar to the screening of abnormal chromosome count only used to test for genetic diseases. The fertility institutes have used this to take gender selection to the next level. Stating that this has a greater than 99,9% success rate.

PGD is performed with IVF and followed by genetic screening for mutant gene. IVF stage, eggs are collected and fertilized by sperm in the laboratory to produce Zygotes. Then, these Zygotes carry on to growing in the laboratory for 3 days until reached eight cells stage. Biopsy of embryo is performed and extracted blastomere from each 6-8 cell stage embryo. Then, cell undergoes genetic screening for mutant gene. Un-carrier and unaffected embryos are transferred into mother’s uterus with confident no CF mutant gene for ensuring a quality of life for baby (Destouni, 2016).

PGD is a reproductive technology used with IVF, where genetic or chromosomal disorders in early embryos before implantation and pregnancy are screened. Disease-inherited embryos are

Approximately 120,000 babies are born each year with a genetic disease or major genetic birth defect ("Inherited Disorders and Birth Defects"). It is 2014 and our generation still has thousands of babies with genetic diseases born each year and that isn’t right. These diseases range from phenylketonuria, a genetic disorder that causes mental retardation if left untreated, to congenital heart disease which has a 51 percent mortality rate in infants with the condition ("Mortality Associated...”). One of the solutions that scientists are working on to this problem is preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Barlow-Stewart says, “preimplantation genetic diagnosis works through in-vitro fertilization, which involves removing egg cells from a

Many doctors, researchers and parents that have genetic disorders are for the use of PGD. Dr Mary Birdsall, of Fertility Associates, works with patients that have had multiple miscarriages, infertility issues, failed IVF, pre diagnosed genetic conditions and parents that cannot get pregnant. "Many people miscarry because they have implanted a chromosomally abnormal baby," Birdsall says. "The idea of going through an IVF cycle and choosing, as far as you can tell, only chromosomally normal embryos to go back into the uterus will increase the chances." Many doctors like Dr Birdsall are for the use of PGD, PGD provides parents the opportunities to increase the chances of getting pregnant by examining the embryos and implanting one that will be

The first section will focus on parents with a family history of severe hereditary diseases such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia. When one or both partners in a couple are carriers of the genetic mutation that could leave could lead to a serious medical condition in the child, IVF and PGD screening can be performed on their embryos1. These parents will choose to screen their child to see if the genes related to the hereditary disease are present in the embryo. They are also checking to see if genes that don’t guarantee the disease but have a strong correlation are present as well. This is done to prevent the onset of that disease for their child.

The two procedures are used mainly for screening of diseases; however, in 1996 a special case evoked attention around the world. The Collins family visited a doctor in Fairvax, Virginia for IVF. The family desired to conceive a female, due to already having two sons (Ly). Considering the fact that PGD and IVF were only used for genetic disease screening, the attempt to select the gender of their baby sparked the interest in the scientific community.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a reproductive procedure involving the screening of IVF-produced embryos to identify any mutations in the DNA and therefore serious genetic defects before implantation. PGD is used to diagnose embryos that may be affected with inherited single gene disorders (e.g. cystic fibrosis) and sex linked disorders (e.g. haemophilia), resulting in the exclusion of the embryos which contain an obvious genetic disorder. Many blastocysts have the wrong number of chromosomes (aneuploidy), which can lead to miscarriages, birth defects and other problems, so PGD is used to select the best embryo/s to transfer into the woman’s uterus - In younger women, 30-40% of all blastocysts are aneuploid, and by age 43-45, the

The first stage is genetic counseling by a genetics specialist, who, working closely with a clinician, will inform the couple whether the aforementioned techniques are recommended in their case.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis with assistants from IVF meets this demand. PGD is a reproductive option for those who do not want to pass on specific genetic disorders or chromosome imbalance to their offspring. After undergoing IVF, embryologist’s will screen the embryos DNA. Embryo’s which contain obvious genetic abnormalities will be excluded and unaffected embryo’s will be transferred to the uterus; therefore, the patient can

PGD is increasingly available for low prognosis IVF patients and for single gene mutations that

In the United States, an estimated 2.3 million couples are considered infertile [Wekesser, 1996]. This creates a large need for infertility specialists and clinics specializing in fertility treatments. With the quickly advancing field of rep roductive services and the quest for creating better, healthier babies, a new service called Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is being offered in conjunction with In vitro fertilization.

If eggs are not being obtained from donation, the prospective mother is given drugs with the purpose of 'controlled ovarian hyperstimulation ' - the ovaries are caused to release a larger quantity of eggs, on demand. For a period of one to two weeks, ultrasound is used to observe the development of immature egg cells. When ready for extraction, the woman is put under sedation and a needle is used to remove the eggs. After a few hours of allowing the eggs to mature, the polar body of an egg (result of uneven cell division, would eventually dissolve) can be taken for testing. However, this sample contains only the mother 's DNA. If the objective is to test the whole DNA of the potential child, or to account for the father 's contribution, the eggs are then fertilised in vitro (in the lab), and a biopsy (typically three days after fertilisation) of the embryo is then performed, using a cell produced from the cell division.

It is the ethics involved in this situation that causes PGD to be a socio-scientific issue. Generally, embryos that are affected with the disease that is being tested for are discarded. There is usually at least one embryo affected with the disease that is being tested for. However embryos that are not implanted can be stored for up to ten years. In some cases there will be more than one ‘healthy’ embryo. As people do not usually choose to implant two, the patient has to make a decision as to what embryo they will choose to implant. The other is likely to be frozen for storage. There is never a 100% guarantee that the embryo will implant, or that the results are 100% accurate. The issues involved are that the embryos may be perceived to be people, or the beginning of an alive baby. Therefore, depending on perception some people will disagree with PGD because they might perceive discarding the embryo’s to be like terminating or killing a baby. (Refer to opinions and perspectives). Furthermore, another potential opinion regarding ethics is the issue of designer babies. Although sex selection in New Zealand is illegal and PGD/PGS is purely for the testing of genetic disorders, some perceive it as the next step towards creating perfect ‘designer’ babies. Designer babies are genetically engineered children. Currently the term is generally used to describe a baby whose genetic make-up has been selected in order to remove a particular defect, or to ensure that a

The goal of PGD is to produce a viable and healthy child free of any severe hereditary diseases. “the issue here is whether this goal should include accepting embryos with a ‘carrier’ test result.” This means the embryos may be free of the defect with little possibility of them possessing the disease, however there is a possibility that their offspring (embryos child) may inherit the relevant genes. Therefore parents selecting purely unaffected and non-carrier embryos pose the question that maybe in this instance PGD goes beyond the health of the immediate child being tested.