The first British girl free of the defective BRCA-1 gene, which increases the chances of a woman developing breast cancer, is due to be born soon. The girl was genetically selected to be free of the defective gene. As an embryo, which screened to ensure they do not have the defective gene.
BRCA-1 gene by the risk of breast cancer for generations. Experts say a woman who by this gene is a 50% to 85% risk of developing breast cancer.
Each girl, the father of the family women have breast cancer. The mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, has decided to continue the investigation, they called on the PID (PGD) in June 2008. She said that she and her husband decided that he had a chance to get this risk for their offspring, and that was a route to go.
PGD has been before in the United Kingdom, but never for the BRCA-1 gene. The screening was carried out to embryos free of cystic fibrosis and Huntington's disease.
As breast cancer does not affect a person from birth, and sometimes can be cured, the approval for the implementation of the PID in this case asked the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority.
The support of the design unit, a private clinic, the procedure is at University College Hospital, London. Experts carried out tests on 11 3 days-old embryos. Six of them were with the gene. Two embryos that do not have the gene. The mother was pregnant with one.
The audit was conducted by Mr. Paul Serhal - Medical Director, with the support of the concept.
About Paul Serhal
The support of the conception unit at University College London Hospital was founded in 1990 by the Medical Director Paul Serhal MBBS, MRCOG. Has the great experience of female and male infertility and their efforts were successful in the assisted conception is a leading worldwide at the forefront of new techniques for the preimplantation diagnosis. He has published numerous articles in international journals and has lectured and fertility work presented at international conferences. Has focused on numerous radio and television documentaries on various issues related to women's health.
What is Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)?
DGP has been used as an alternative to prenatal diagnosis, during pregnancy. The prenatal diagnosis of the parents are told if the fetus is affected by a genetic disorder. If so, who can then decide whether to continue the pregnancy or terminate it. The termination of pregnancy is a difficult option for most couples.
With PGD, however, the parents in the IVF (in vitro fertilization) procedure - the embryos outside the body. When the embryos are in the 6-8 cells from one or two blastomeres are removed (a blastomere is a type of cell division, resulting from the egg after fertilization). Single Cell diagnosis made by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), depending on the disease is diagnosed. Embryos that are not related to the faulty genes in the uterus, and then starts with the pregnancy.
Couples involved in the PID usually fruitful and often have a termination of pregnancy affected. You can change the moral or religious reasons do not want a pregnancy (abortion). Some couples, the number of abortions by chromosomal abnormalities experiencds.
