Aggregated News
Researchers have for the first time determined the genome sequence of human egg cells without destroying them.
The feat, reported today in Cell, could help couples who undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) by allowing them to choose a genetically healthy embryo to implant into the mother without disturbing the embryo's growth.
“This is a game changer,” says cancer biologist and geneticist Edison Liu, president and chief executive of the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine.
The work follows the sequencing of individual sperm cells last year (2, 3) by two groups, one led by chemical biologist Sunney Xie at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a co-author of the latest study. Because money from the US National Institutes of Health cannot be used to create or destroy embryos, Xie conducted the latest research with a team at Peking University in Beijing, where he spends one-third of his time.
Egg collection
The team collected eggs from eight mothers, who were paid for their time and discomfort, and fertilized the eggs in a culture dish. They then broke open...
The feat, reported today in Cell, could help couples who undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) by allowing them to choose a genetically healthy embryo to implant into the mother without disturbing the embryo's growth.
“This is a game changer,” says cancer biologist and geneticist Edison Liu, president and chief executive of the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine.
The work follows the sequencing of individual sperm cells last year (2, 3) by two groups, one led by chemical biologist Sunney Xie at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a co-author of the latest study. Because money from the US National Institutes of Health cannot be used to create or destroy embryos, Xie conducted the latest research with a team at Peking University in Beijing, where he spends one-third of his time.
Egg collection
The team collected eggs from eight mothers, who were paid for their time and discomfort, and fertilized the eggs in a culture dish. They then broke open...