GENETIC TESTING EQUALS ONEHEALTHY BABY, 17 DISCARDED EMBRYOS

CHICAGO, June 8, 2001 (LSN.ca) – Chicago scientistsannounced yesterday

the first birth of a baby screened as an embryo to insure nopredisposition

to cancer. Researchers at the Reproductive GeneticsInstitute tested 18

early-stage embryos from two in-vitro fertilization attemptsfor a

particular genetic disorder and seven were found to benormal. Two of those

embryos were transferred back to the mother resulting in onesuccessful

pregnancy.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD, is performed atabout 29

medical centers worldwide, mostly to uncover single-genedisorders. Last

year the same institute's scientists stirred worldwidedebate when they

selected from among 15 embryos to achieve a child with agood bone

marrow match for his older sister, who suffered from alethal anemia.

Attorney Laurie Rosenow of the Institute for Science, Lawand Technology,

Chicago-Kent College of Law, says there is practically noregulation in

this field. “The industry, in fact, is being regulatedby the individual

physicians and clinics who offer these services,”observes Rosenow. "It

raises the question: Who exactly should be making thesedecisions?” she

says.

For further information see:

http://www.chicago.tribune.com/news/metro/chicago/article/0,2669,ART-52290,FF.htm