DNA fingerprinting boost for IVF

DNA fingerprinting has been used for the first time to identify viable IVF embryos in a breakthrough which could revolutionise fertility treatment.

The same technique used by police to trap suspects in criminal investigations also has the potential to ensure successful pregnancies.

In a pioneering study, scientists from Australia and Greece matched specific embryos to individual babies after they were born.

Pinpointing viable embryos in this way is something that has never been achieved before.

Under normal circumstances it would be impossible for doctors to tell which of a number of embryos they have placed in a woman's womb has resulted in the birth of a baby.

The new research conducted in Athens opens up the possibility of far more accurate screening of IVF embryos.

By having the ability to match embryos and babies, scientists can now search for the definitive genetic hallmarks of a successful pregnancy. Once they are recognised, it will be possible to single out and implant only those embryos with a high chance of producing a live birth.

Instead of placing a number of embryos in a woman's womb, doctors may in future only need to transfer one, and still be confident of success. As a result not only would pregnancy rates improve, but IVF multiple births would cease to be a problem.

Scientists hope the research reported in the journal Human Reproduction will make IVF treatment less of a gamble and safer.

Co-author Dr David Cram, from Monash University, said: "DNA fingerprinting is the ultimate form of biological identification, but until now it has not been used to identify the embryonic origin of resultant babies born following embryo transfer, nor has it been used for gene expression studies. Our ultimate aim is to find out which genes are expressed by viable blastocysts."

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