Parents Brittany and Elliott Ash were the first in California to use a new genetic testing process to screen an embryo for specific traits. However, it has now become a common practice in Newport Beach. Officials say that only embryos free of certain diseases can be selected through standard preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-1). However, PGT-1 has not been used on embryos with physical characteristics such as hair color and skin tone. According to Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg, Medical Director of Fertility Institutes in Los Angeles and New York City, the breakthrough allows parents to select their ideal embryo based on its intelligence quotient (IQ), height, eye color, hair color, athletic ability, and more. Newport Beach preimplantation genetic testing will now allow prospective parents to choose the embryo with the best chance.
How Preimplantation Genetic Testing Is Performed
Preimplantation genetic testing is not always easy to understand. Many people may wonder what geneticists would do with DNA once it’s been tested and why some people are interested in finding out if their embryos have a certain mutation or variant. Doctors mainly rely on:
- Chromosome Analysis
This technique analyzes the chromosomes of cells that have been removed from one or more embryos. Cells can be analyzed either by removing a cell and placing it on a microscope slide (a procedure called karyotyping) or by using a probe to identify genes on certain chromosomes (called fluorescence in situ hybridization, or FISH). The results of this testing often take several days.
- Biopsies
This technique uses many thin needles inserted through the outer membrane surrounding an embryo to cut off tiny pieces of tissue for genetic testing. These samples are then sent to a pathology lab, where technicians grow the cells until they multiply.
Is Preimplantation Genetic Testing a Good Idea?
PGD is legal in most countries around the world with some strict limitations. In fact, it’s rapidly becoming one of the most popular forms of preimplantation diagnosis, according to Dr. Peter Braude, head of clinical services at British.
“Healthy baby.” “Genetically sound child.” Ads that promote PGD promise parents more than just a chance for a healthy child. The ads also offer the reassurance of knowing your children are free from genetic diseases. Parents may use this opportunity to weed out less desirable traits, such as hair or eye color, gender, and even specific personality characteristics. Some scientists call prenatal testing – including PGD – an ethical minefield because of its potential for eugenics.
The medical procedure can help couples to avoid passing genetic diseases to their child. The basic principle of the PGT is simple, embryos are tested in the lab to see if they carry any mutations in specific genes, and only “healthy” embryos are replaced in the woman’s uterus. This process allows sex selection, reduces miscarriage risk, and prevents the transmission of certain life-threatening or debilitating disorders.
In conclusion, if you have any questions about preimplantation genetic testing, get the opinion of your doctor. They will put your mind at ease and help you determine if it is your best option.
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