The successful achievement of pregnancies following pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) was first reported in April 1990. The technology is often used for patients who are at substantial risk of conceiving a pregnancy affected by a known genetic disorder, however from this technology other more controversial uses have arisen such as HLA typing to save the life of a sibling, gender selection for social reasons, the prevention of late onset diseases, or the prevention of diseases which may be genetically predisposed to developing such as breast cancer. The technology surrounding PGD is constantly developing, giving rise to new and unexpected consequences that create fresh ethical and legal dilemmas. Featuring internationally recognized experts in the field, this book critically explores the regulation of PGD and the broader legal and ethical issues associated with it. It looks at the regulatory situation in a number of jurisdictions including New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom, but it also explores a number of themes of wide significance including a historical consideration of PGD and its part in the creation of the "genetic embryo" as a political tool, the over regulation of PGD and the ethical difficulties in handling additional unexpected medical information yielded by new technologies. This book will be of particular interest to academics and students of law, medicine and ethics.

Reproductive technology allows us to test embryos' genes before deciding whether to transfer them to a woman's uterus. Embryo selection raises many ethical questions but is virtually unregulated in the United States. This comprehensive study considers the ethical, medical, political, and economic aspects of developing appropriate regulation.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a rapidly advancing field of reproductive genetics. With the significant improvements achieved over the last few years in the understanding of many genetic diseases and in the techniques of molecular genetic testing, new genetic diseases are being added to the list of conditions amenable to PGD almost on a weekly basis. Therefore, the subject of PGD is becoming relevant to a much wider variety of medical disciplines and an increasing number of patients who may wish to know more about this treatment option. This unique book offers a comprehensive yet practical “user-friendly” guide to preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). It provides understanding of and insight into the complete procedure, its recent clinical and laboratory developments and its future prospects, whilst offering an easy point of reference for patient enquiries. Concluding with perspectives on the ethical and social issues often encountered by healthcare professionals counselling patients with regards to PGD. Each chapter within Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis in Clinical Practice is written by established authorities in their fields. An essential resource for PGD specialists and non-specialists, and for all practitioners working within the disciplines of fertility, reproductive medicine and medical genetics.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is the detection and screening of genetic abnormality in gametes prior to fertilisation and embryos fertilised in vitro prior to implantation. This exciting new text provides an introduction and overview of the principles of PGD. An exciting fusion of prenatal diagnosis (PD) with in vitro fertilisation (IVF), this book is will appeal to both the prenatal diagnosis community, of clinical geneticists and foetal medicine specialists within obstetrics and gynaecology, and the IVF community within reproductive medicine. It is also an essential introduction to PD, clinical genetics and IVF for non-specialists. A concise introduction to the field of PGD Detailed explanations of the techniques and procedures used The law and ethical implications of PGD Future uses of PGD

Are new reproductive and genetic technologies racing ahead of a society that is unable to establish limits to their use? Have the "new genetics" outpaced our ability to control their future applications? This book examines the case of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), the procedure used to prevent serious genetic disease by embryo selection, and the so-called "designer baby" method. Using detailed empirical evidence, the authors show that far from being a runaway technology, the regulation of PGD over the past fifteen years provides an example of precaution and restraint, as well as continual adaptation to changing social circumstances. Through interviews, media and policy analysis, and participant observation at two PGD centers in the United Kingdom, Born and Made provides an in-depth sociological examination of the competing moral obligations that define the experience of PGD. Among the many novel findings of this pathbreaking ethnography of reproductive biomedicine is the prominence of uncertainty and ambivalence among PGD patients and professionals--a finding characteristic of the emerging "biosociety," in which scientific progress is inherently paradoxical and contradictory. In contrast to much of the speculative futurology that defines this field, Born and Made provides a timely and revealing case study of the on-the-ground decision-making that shapes technological assistance to human heredity.

Yury Verlinskyand Anver Kuliev Reproductive Genetics Institute, Illinois Masonic Medical Center, 836 W. Wellington chicago, IL 60657 Although introduction of a first trimester prenatal diagnosis by chorionic viIIus sampling (CVS) has considerably improved the possibility for prevention of genetic diseases, it requires a selective abortion in case of an affected fetus. Following the direction of an earlier prenatal diagnosis and to avoid the need for abortion, preimplantation genetic diagnosis has been initiated based on polar body removal and pre-embryo biopsy. The First International symposium on Preimplantation Genetics, Chicago, September 17-19, 1990, was organized to explore these important developments, to review the state of knowledge in the field, and to address existing problems to be solved for developing and improving current approaches for preimplantation diagnosis of genetic disorders. A growing interest in the subject was obvious from the wide attendance of the meeting: over 250 scientists from 19 countries participated. This was the first attempt to put together the advances in different areas of basic and applied research relevant to Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, with the multidisciplinary scientific program including the sessions on embryology, micromanipulation and biopsy, genetic analysis of gametes and pre-embryos, IVF, gene expression and gene therapy, and ethical and legal issues. The deliberations of the Symposium presented in the above mentioned sessions, which comprise the contents of correspond ing sections of the Proceedings, open a newarea in medical research based on the interaction of IVF and New Genetics.