Prenatal Testing - IVF and PGD

Question 1

What is in vitro fertilization (IVF)?

Answer 1

Eggs from the mother and sperm from the father are combined in the lab and healthy embryos are implanted back into the mother

Question 2

What is preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)?

Answer 2

Embryos are screened for genetic conditions and aneuploidies before being implanted

Question 3

How do scientists get DNA from an embryo to use for PGD?

Answer 3

They biopsy a few cells off. At the time point where they do it, it doesn’t bother the embryo if the scientist is careful

Question 4

Is PGD always done with IVF?

Answer 4

No, it isn’t routine

Question 5

What are 3 advantages of using PGD vs traditional prenatal testing?

Answer 5

1. Emotional and physical impacts of not having to worry about terminating a pregnancy
2. Higher likelihood of a successful pregnancy
3. Avoid having to do invasive tests that could result in a miscarriage

Question 6

What can PGD detect?

Answer 6

Chromosomal changes (like duplications and deletions), aneuploidies, any testable genetic conditions, diseases from mitochondrial DNA

Question 7

What is 3 person IVF?

Answer 7

An egg from a donor has the nucleus removed, and the nucleus from the fertilized egg of the patients is put in

Question 8

Why is 3 person IVF used?

Answer 8

When the mother is a carrier of a mitochondrial disease