Scientists said Monday they had used a new-generation gene sequencing technique to select a viable embryo for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) that yielded a healthy baby boy.
IVF, the process whereby a human egg is fertilised with sperm in the laboratory, is a hit-and-miss affair, with only about 30 percent of fertilised embryos resulting in pregnancy after implantation.
The reason for the high failure rate is not clear but genetic defects are the prime suspects, according to the authors of the paper presented Monday at a meeting in London of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).
The new method, known as next generation sequencing or NGS, uses updated technology to sequence an entire genome — revealing inherited genetic disorders, chromosome abnormalities and mutations.
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