A new in vitro fertilization technique may be able to detect numerous illnesses as soon as five days after the conception of an embryo.
Normal IVF treatments work by fertilizing many eggs in a laboratory setting and then implanting them in the mother; this allows for a much higher chances of a pregnancy taking and being successful.
The new process scans the newly-fertilized eggs for genetic weaknesses and illnesses, then only implants the healthiest of the embryos.
The method can theoretically increase both the rate of successful pregnancies and the health of the babies themselves. Embryos can be scanned for diseases such as Huntington’s, Down’s Syndrome and spinal muscular atrophy.
The breakthrough comes from Monash University in Australia and is creating a large buzz in the scientific community.
