The 41st episode of the Progress Educational Trust podcast features Professor Alan Handyside – a pioneer of preimplantation genetic testing – explaining how and why it became scientifically possible, and also legally permissible, to test the DNA of IVF embryos.
This discussion originally took place at the PET Annual Conference (see BioNews 1320) and is chaired by Dr Philip Ball.
(If you can't see the podcast episode embedded below, you can listen to or download it via Spreaker.)
Listen to "The Origins of Preimplantation Genetic Testing" on Spreaker.
You can also find us on podcast apps and platforms including Apple, Google, iHeart, Spotify and others. Just search for 'Progress Educational Trust podcast', and subscribe via the platform of your choice. Alternatively, look out for future podcast episodes in BioNews.
We would like to thank Jon Nicoll (who created the opening and closing music for our podcast).
Register for these upcoming PET events:
- Male Infertility: Today's Insights, Tomorrow's Treatments, taking place in Edinburgh on Wednesday 18 March 2026 – register here.
- What Does the NICE Fertility Guideline Update Mean for You?, taking place online on Wednesday 15 April 2026 – register here.
Related Articles
PET Podcast: Polygenic Risk, Polygenic Scores, Polygenic Indices – What Are They? What Should Be Done with Them?
Bringing you PET events as a podcast. In the 42nd episode of its podcast, PET discusses the science and ethics of PGT-P, with Dr Philip Ball, Dr Emma Meaburn, Dr Dorit Barlevy and Professor Angus Clarke...
Why PGT-P is not lawful in the UK: The regulator explains
PGT-P is not supported by evidence and may reduce the chances of having a baby overall, argues HFEA chief executive Peter Thompson...
The Origins of Preimplantation Genetic Testing
The third session of 'What Does Genomics Mean for Fertility Treatment?' – the 2025 Annual Conference of PET – saw the PGT pioneer Professor Alan Handyside give a keynote presentation...
Polygenic Risk, Polygenic Scores, Polygenic Indices: What Are They? What Should Be Done with Them?
The fourth session of 'What Does Genomics Mean for Fertility Treatment?' – the 2025 Annual Conference of PET – explored tensions between new genetic testing approaches, established regulation and ethics...
Equity of access: Not for northern NHS patients requiring PGT-M
The most northerly fertility clinic offering NHS funded PGT-M and PGT-SR in England is in Nottingham. This means there are now around 100 patients residing in the north of England who are unable to access the NHS fertility services they need locally to avoid transmitting a genetic condition to their children…
First IVF baby born after new technique to eliminate genetic disease
The first baby in Europe has been born following a new IVF-based technique developed to prevent the inheritance of genetic disorders...
Policing preimplantation genetic diagnosis: patients first please
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority recently announced plans to review the list of approved inherited conditions for which preimplantation genetic diagnosis is currently licensed to ensure that it is only available for conditions which meet the statutory requirements in the UK...
Celebrating 20 years of preimplantation genetic diagnosis
At the beginning of this month, following the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) annual meeting in Rome, a workshop was held to celebrate 20 years of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)...