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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Universal embryo test 'very near' | Universal embryo test 'very near' |
| (about 19 hours later) | |
| A gene mapping test that can test embryos for almost any inherited disease could be available in the UK within a year, say researchers. | A gene mapping test that can test embryos for almost any inherited disease could be available in the UK within a year, say researchers. |
| Unlike current tests doctors do not need to know the specific gene mutation involved. | Unlike current tests doctors do not need to know the specific gene mutation involved. |
| At the same time embryos can be tested to check they are generally in good genetic shape. | At the same time embryos can be tested to check they are generally in good genetic shape. |
| Experts say there will have to be strict limits on what the test can be used for. | Experts say there will have to be strict limits on what the test can be used for. |
| We're not mad Frankensteins working away in our laboratories to create designer babies Professor Tony RutherfordBritish Fertility Society | |
| The test - which will cost around £2,500 - uses a technique called karyomapping which looks for the inheritance of sections of DNA or chromosomes. | The test - which will cost around £2,500 - uses a technique called karyomapping which looks for the inheritance of sections of DNA or chromosomes. |
| Rather than knowing the exact gene mutation which is passed down the generations in an family affected by a condition such as cystic fibrosis, doctors can just look for the block of DNA containing a faulty gene. | Rather than knowing the exact gene mutation which is passed down the generations in an family affected by a condition such as cystic fibrosis, doctors can just look for the block of DNA containing a faulty gene. |
| At the moment genetic testing of embryos is generally limited to a few conditions. | At the moment genetic testing of embryos is generally limited to a few conditions. |
| But karyomapping could in theory be used to test for any one of the 15,000 genetic defects known about. | But karyomapping could in theory be used to test for any one of the 15,000 genetic defects known about. |
| Using the same test doctors could also look at whether any chromosomes are missing or duplicated which suggests the embryo will not be viable. | Using the same test doctors could also look at whether any chromosomes are missing or duplicated which suggests the embryo will not be viable. |
| It would also be far quicker than current tests, taking only three days instead of weeks or months. | It would also be far quicker than current tests, taking only three days instead of weeks or months. |
| Professor Alan Handyside, from London's Bridge Centre, who developed the test said in the handful of families they had looked at, it had been 100% successful in picking up affected embryos. | Professor Alan Handyside, from London's Bridge Centre, who developed the test said in the handful of families they had looked at, it had been 100% successful in picking up affected embryos. |
| US researchers have also run the test in embryos at risk of cystic fibrosis. | US researchers have also run the test in embryos at risk of cystic fibrosis. |
| In five cases where families had donated embryos to research, they proved the test can pick up cystic fibrosis mutations. | In five cases where families had donated embryos to research, they proved the test can pick up cystic fibrosis mutations. |
| At the same time they found serious chromosome abnormalities suggesting those embryos would not have resulted in successful pregnancy, delegates at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference heard. | At the same time they found serious chromosome abnormalities suggesting those embryos would not have resulted in successful pregnancy, delegates at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference heard. |
| That could boost the chance of a couple having a successful pregnancy through IVF as well as a baby free from the condition in question. | That could boost the chance of a couple having a successful pregnancy through IVF as well as a baby free from the condition in question. |
| Ethical issues | Ethical issues |
| The UK team has applied to the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA) for a licence. | The UK team has applied to the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA) for a licence. |
| Clinical trials of the test are due to start by the end of the year. | Clinical trials of the test are due to start by the end of the year. |
| Regulators will be assessing whether it works and whether it is safe. | Regulators will be assessing whether it works and whether it is safe. |
| But there are also ethical issues to consider. | But there are also ethical issues to consider. |
| Ultimately, the test could be used to test for conditions which are not serious or life-threatening - leading to concerns about designer babies. | Ultimately, the test could be used to test for conditions which are not serious or life-threatening - leading to concerns about designer babies. |
| The HFEA will be able to set conditions on what the test can be used for. | The HFEA will be able to set conditions on what the test can be used for. |
| Professor Handyside said one use for the test could be looking for genetic causes of autism which occurs in 5% of cases. | Professor Handyside said one use for the test could be looking for genetic causes of autism which occurs in 5% of cases. |
| Other likely candidates are Huntington's disease and spinal muscular atrophy - a condition that can cause death in infancy. | Other likely candidates are Huntington's disease and spinal muscular atrophy - a condition that can cause death in infancy. |
| "What we're mapping is inheritance from the father and the mother across the entire genome. | "What we're mapping is inheritance from the father and the mother across the entire genome. |
| "The potential criticism of this work is we could find all kinds of changes in the embryo. | "The potential criticism of this work is we could find all kinds of changes in the embryo. |
| "But we wouldn't get a licence to do this for all conditions. | "But we wouldn't get a licence to do this for all conditions. |
| He added: "We are limited in the number of embryos we can test so something has to be very likely to turn up." | He added: "We are limited in the number of embryos we can test so something has to be very likely to turn up." |
| Professor Tony Rutherford, chair of the British Fertility Society said the test would be more reliable although admitted such technology was opening a "Pandora's box". | |
| "The issue here is we may find out a lot of genetic information and how is that going to be used or stored." | "The issue here is we may find out a lot of genetic information and how is that going to be used or stored." |
| But he said the regulations in the UK on what could be tested for were very strict and would remain so. | But he said the regulations in the UK on what could be tested for were very strict and would remain so. |
| "We're not mad Frankensteins working away in our laboratories to create designer babies. | |
| "We are only allowed to look for major diseases which cause handicaps." | "We are only allowed to look for major diseases which cause handicaps." |