Thousands of people every year in the US are having their DNA collected and analysed without their knowledge or consent, according to a report by the weekly science magazine, New Scientist. In an article published in the 24 January issue, the journal revealed their investigation into the...
The US Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention (EGAPP) Working Group (EWG) has released evidence-based recommendations on the validity and utility of three genetic tests currently being used in clinical practice. The new recommendations were made regarding three tumour genetic profiling tests used in breast...
A professor conducting research on behalf of Genesis Appeal, the UK's only charity dedicated to the prevention of breast cancer, has called for doctors to be allowed to inform patients that they are carriers of mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, thus making them aware of...
A new multinational study, published in Nature Genetics has identified a gene mutation which may dramatically increase the risk of developing certain types of heart disease for 60 million South Asians. The study - led by Kumarasamy Thangaraj of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad...
Pollutants have been found in British rivers that could account for the decreasing male fertility in the country. A study that examined wild male fish in rivers developing female reproductive organs found a link between this and the presence of 'anti-androgens' in the water. These drugs, used...
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed the biotech firm, Geron, to begin clinical trials using embryonic stem (ES) cells to help treat spinal cord injury sufferers who have become paralysed from the chest down. The product known as GRNOPC1 will be tested for its...
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How good a solution is single embryo transfer (SET) for fertility patients?
by Norbert Gleicher
On the European side of the Atlantic single embryo transfer (SET) is increasingly becoming standard practice. As a consequence of legislation, as in Belgium, of professional dogma, as in most Scandinavian countries, or the product of the regulatory prowess of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), as in the...
Elective single embryo transfer (eSET) policy implementation to all UK IVF centres from 2009: Reality or Myth?
by Shantal Rajah
Elective single embryo transfer (eSET) policy implementation has raised many issues among patients, IVF experts and fund holders. The main concern in relation to this policy is that we do not know how much, and by what percentage, it will reduce the pregnancy rate in our patients. The policy says...
The debate about single embryo transfer isn't NICE
by Sandy Starr
This month sees the coming into force of new regulations by the UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which seek to ensure that elective single embryo transfer (eSET) for women under 40 becomes standard practice in IVF treatment in the UK. Under these regulations, public and private fertility clinics...