Commercial DNA testing used to gain donor conception information
With consumer DNA testing growing in popularity, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ensure the anonymity of both donors and donor-conceived children...
News
Image by Matthew Daniels via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts human cells, showing the stages of cell division.
CRISPR/nickase genome editing more efficient and efficient than CRISPR/Cas9
The safety and efficiency of CRISPR-based genome editing may be improved by using an enzyme that cuts just one strand of DNA instead of both...
No difference between fresh and frozen sperm for IUI
The largest study of its kind has found no difference in pregnancy rates between intrauterine insemination cycles using fresh or frozen sperm...
Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family (from Greek and Roman mythology) entwined in coils of DNA.
Same-sex couple who wanted sons sue clinic after daughter is born
A US couple has filed a lawsuit against a fertility clinic for transferring a female embryo into their gestational carrier, resulting in the birth of a daughter after requesting a son...
Frozen embryo transfers linked to high blood pressure in pregnancy
Pregnancies resulting from frozen embryo transfers are at greater risk of complications related to high blood pressure, according to new research...
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
Artificial genes help scientists understand how cells develop
Synthetic DNA technology has been used to develop artificial genes, demonstrating how cells in an embryo are directed where to migrate and what cell type to become...
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
US five-year follow-up study shows uterus transplants safe
Uterus transplants in the USA have been shown to be safe for recipients and donors, with a high percentage of successful pregnancies resulting from them...
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
Anorexia in pregnancy linked to increased risk of complications
Pregnant women with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa are at much higher risk of premature birth, delivering underweight babies and other complications...
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
Pregnancy after breast cancer treatment does not increase risk of recurrence
Women who have children after having breast cancer are not risking their survival, a new study has shown...
Reviews
TV Review: DNA Family Secrets – Series two, episode three
How would you feel not knowing your parents' real identity? How would you feel knowing your biological father could be a murderer? For some, these are not hypothetical scenarios, so they turn to DNA testing to find out their ancestry...
Comment
Dutch Embryo Act under revision
by Professor Guido De Wert and 1 others
Ethicists, Professor Wybo Dondorp and Professor Guido de Wert, summarise the 2021 evaluation of the Dutch Embroys Act with regard to the legal definition of an embryo, and how this relates to the recommendation to lift the ban on creating embryos for research...