Embryos with defective cells 'can still develop healthily'

Conclusion This mouse study helps to advance scientific understanding of how some embryos containing a mix of euploid and aneuploid cells develop normally and others do not. This looks to be related to the proportion of euploid and aneuploid cells early on in the cells' development, and their specific location. However, though the researchers saw clear implications for the assessment of embryo vitality in human fertility clinics, this research is at too early a stage to be able to accurately predict outcomes for human foetal development. Follow-up studies in people are needed to test whether this mice observation happens the same way – which isn't guaranteed. The research largely measured successful implantation in mice, but also tested whether this would tell us something about successful live birth rates and subsequent development. These experiments suggested healthy implantation was a good way of predicting healthy development at later stages, at least in mice – a strength of this study. Links To The Headlines No need to abort babies, say Cambridge University don who gave birth to a healthy boy at 44 – despite a test that showed there was a high chance her child might develop Down's Syndrome. Mail Online, March 29 2016 Abnormal cells not a sure sign of baby defects, finds academic who had healthy child at 44 despite risk. The Telegraph, March 30 2016
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Pregnancy/child Genetics/stem cells Source Type: news