Homepage  /  IVF News  

IVF News



News: Eggs produced from male stem cells lead to creation of mice with two fathers

Dr Emma Green 13 March 2023

Egg cells have been generated from male mouse cells and, once fertilised and implanted into female mice, have developed seemingly healthy, fertile offspring.

The research was presented at the Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing at the Francis Crick Institute in London, by Professor Katsuhiko Hayashi, now at Osaka University, Japan. However, the work has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. This early, proof-of-concept technique could assist with some types of infertility and, if able to overcome a number of technical and ethical barriers, could eventually lead to children with two biological fathers.

'This is the first case of making robust mammal oocytes [egg cells] from male cells,' Professor Hayashi said in his presentation.

The original aim of the research was to address infertility in women with Turner syndrome who only have one X chromosome, since egg development requires two X chromosomes. The researchers chose to use male cells which have an X and a Y chromosome, since the Y chromosome is smaller, and can be lost naturally when cells are grown in the lab.

The process first involved turning male mouse skin cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which have the potential to develop into almost any type of cell. They then extracted the cells which had naturally lost the Y chromosome. The researchers then used a technique to generate cells with two X chromosomes. By providing a mixture of signals, they were able to turn the XX iPSCs into immature eggs. The eggs were then fertilised with mouse sperm and the embryos were transferred to the uterus of female mice.

The mouse pups generated from this technique were healthy, grew normally, and were fertile adults. However, the success rate was low, with only seven pups developing from 630 transferred embryos.

'The trick of this, the biggest trick, is the duplication of the X chromosome,' said Professor Hayashi. 'We really tried to establish a system to duplicate the X chromosome.'

During his speech, Professor Hayashi confirmed that much work still needs to be undertaken and that any medical applications of this work are still a long way off. The research team are currently comparing the mice generated from this technique to those bred using conventional methods.

'There are big differences between a mouse and the human,' said Professor Hayashi. He explained that these differences can complicate the transfer of research from the lab to the clinic, in particular because egg and embryo development takes much longer in humans than in mice.

'If you're going to apply this in humans, you really want to err on the side of safety, caution and efficiency,' Professor Keith Latham, a developmental biologist at Michigan State University (who was not involved in the research) told New Scientist.

Sources and References

 


[ Full Article ]
Share IVF News on FaceBook   Share IVF News on Twitter   

Announcement: 1 WEEK INDIVIDUAL HANDS-ON IN ART

Marc Van den Bergh 10 March 2023

TO GUARANTEE AN OPTIMAL AND EFFICIENT TRAINING WE TAKE ONLY 2 STUDENTS PER SESSION AND EACH STUDENTS HAS HIS OWN ICSI STATION DURING A FULL WEEK.

THE COURSE IS ACCREDITED BY THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF BIOLOGY WITH 186 CREDITS FOR CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

THE COURSE FEE INCLUDES ALSO ACCOMODATION, MEALS AND COURSE MATERIAL.

NEXT SESSION : 7th to 14th May 2023


[ Full Article ]
Share IVF News on FaceBook   Share IVF News on Twitter   

News: ART & Embryology training program

Chennai Fertility Center and Research Institute 03 March 2023
ART & Embryology training program

April 2023 Training Batch Schedule - 10th Apr - 24th Apr 2023.

The International School of Embryology was established to offer training for clinicians in advanced reproductive technologies. Our skill and precision to all aspirants help them to know in-depth knowledge and experience. The members of our teaching faculty aim to bring doctors and embryologists to the highest level of knowledge about reproductive techniques and practical capability in the field.

Our courses cover basics in Andrology, embryology, ICSI, and cryosciences (Hands-on).

Limited Seats. For admission Contact  9003111598 / 8428278218 (Whats app)


[ Full Article ]
Share IVF News on FaceBook   Share IVF News on Twitter   

Announcement: Hands-on Training on Simulators: OPU & ET

Dr. Sarabpreet Singh 27 February 2023
Hands-on Training on Simulators: OPU & ET

The Fertilis Academy and Sadbhawna IVF School have announced a 2-day course focusing on the "Hands-on Training on Simulators: OPU & ET". Beginning on 2nd March 2023 from 9 AM IST onwards.

Highlights
➤Perfect Your Skills in OPU & ET on Simulators

Course Details -

➤Lectures
➤Video Demonstrations
➤Hands-on Training
➤Learn the skill and science of OPU and Embryo transfer on simulators in a skill IVF lab with the experts
➤Demonstration of the equipment and disposables used OPU and ET
➤Detailed discussion regarding the procedures
➤Relay of actual USG images from the IVF lab of OPU and ET
➤Study Material will be provided
The certificate will be given**

For details on the course, schedule and other information kindly review www.thefertilisacademy.com and enroll today!

We are more than happy to help you with any questions you might have.

WhatsApp: +91 887 283 3919

Explore more about the course at https://www.thefertilisacademy.com/hands-on-training/


[ Full Article ]
Share IVF News on FaceBook   Share IVF News on Twitter   

News: ART & Embryology training program

Chennai Fertility Center and Research Institute 23 February 2023
ART & Embryology training program

2023 Training Batch Schedule's -  

  • March Batch              -           6th Mar - 20th Mar 2023.
  • April Batch                 -           10th Apr - 24th 2023.
  •  May Batch                 -           08th May -22nd May 2023.
  • June Batch                 -           5th Jun -19th Jun 2023.
  • July Batch                  -           03rd Jul - 17th Jul 2023.
  • August Batch              -           07th Aug - 21st Aug 2023.

               The International School of Embryology was established to offer training for clinicians in advanced reproductive technologies. Our skill and precision to all aspirants help them to know in-depth knowledge and experience. The members of our teaching faculty aim to bring doctors and embryologists to the highest level of knowledge about reproductive techniques and practical capability in the field.

Our courses cover basics in Andrology, embryology, ICSI, and cryosciences (Hands-on).

Limited Seats. For admission Contact  9003111598 / 8428278218.


[ Full Article ]
Share IVF News on FaceBook   Share IVF News on Twitter   

News: IVF does not impact cardiometabolic health of offspring

Melinda Van Kerckvoorde 13 February 2023

An international multi-cohort study shows that people conceived using IVF and ICSI have no significant differences in cardiometabolic health compared to naturally-conceived children.

Previous attempts to study the potential adverse consequences of fertility treatment on offspring health have been limited due to poor sample size, short follow up or relatedness between comparison groups. Now 14 cohort studies of children born since 1982 have been analysed to compare cardiometabolic health outcomes between children conceived via IVF or ICSI, and naturally-conceived children at different ages.

'This is the largest study of its kind and could not be conducted without data from studies such as Children of the 90s,' said Dr Ahmed Elhakeem, author of the study and research fellow in epidemiology at the University of Bristol medical school. 'Parents conceiving or hoping to conceive through assisted reproductive technology and their offspring should be reassured that cardiometabolic health appears to be comparable in ART-conceived and naturally-conceived children.'

The meta-analysis, published in European Heart Journal, selected 14 population-based birth cohorts with a low prevalence of relatedness and examined differences in blood pressure, heart rate, lipids and glucose in children conceived naturally and those conceived using fertility treatment. One of the cohorts was the UK's Children of the 90s study, which has followed over 14,000 pregnant women from the Avon region since 1991.

From a total of 35,938 individuals included in this study, 654 were conceived using IVF or ICSI and most were children below 10 years of age, though some cohorts included data for offspring born from 1982 onwards. No statistical differences were found in blood pressure or heart rate between naturally-conceived children and those conceived via fertility treatment. Biomarker levels such as lipids, glucose and insulin resistance markers were also similar in both groups.

Additionally, the study analysed the change in cardiometabolic outcomes for offspring from the ages of 2-26 years using data taken at different time points from over 17 000 individuals. As a result, the researchers found a predicted increase in systolic blood pressure and lipids in young adulthood, although most differences were not statistically significant. Furthermore, cholesterol levels were found to be significantly higher in children conceived using fertility treatment but these did not persist to adulthood.

According to Peter Thompson, chief executive at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority which acts as the UK fertility sector's regulator: '60,000 patients using fertility services in the UK each year in the hope of one day having a family of their own should be reassured by this study which shows that the heart health of children born from assisted reproduction technologies, like IVF, are no different from children conceived naturally.'

Sources and References


[ Full Article ]
Share IVF News on FaceBook   Share IVF News on Twitter   

News: Italians travelling abroad for surrogacy could be criminalised

Blair Sowry 13 February 2023

Italian couples seeking surrogacy abroad could face fines or imprisonment if the Italian parliament passes a proposed new bill.

Surrogacy has been illegal in Italy since 2004, but families have continued to find surrogates overseas, in countries such as India, Canada and the US. Under the new law, Italians who travel abroad for surrogacy could face fines of up to a million euros or a prison sentence of up to two years upon their return.

The bill, introduced by senators close to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, describes surrogacy as 'the commercialisation of the female body and the treatment of babies as merchandise'. It aims to make the same penalties that already apply to seeking surrogacy arrangements within Italy the same wherever the surrogacy takes place.

Meloni's government emphasises traditional family values. Before becoming prime minister, she said that seeking surrogacy should be considered a 'universal crime' and that: 'a uterus for rent is a commercialisation of women's bodies and human life.'

Presenting the bill, supporters claimed that 'recourse to this practice has dramatically increased and surrogacy is becoming a veritable business which, just to give an example, is €2 billion a year in India.'

India passed laws outlawing commercial surrogacy in 2021.

Opponents of the proposed legislation include Famiglie Arcobaleno (Rainbow Families) which supports same-sex parents in Italy. President of the association, Alessia Crocini, said: 'This is not worthy of a European country in 2023'.

Crocini expressed concern that couples who do seek surrogates internationally would potentially face arrest and accompanying sanctions on arrival at Italian airports.

Same-sex couples in Italy are not permitted to adopt children, and lesbian couples cannot access IVF treatment or donor sperm. Although some couples have previously had children through surrogacy abroad, there have been problems with the children's legal parenthood and citizenship status in some cases.

According to First Post, the law will also ban Italian same-sex couples from trying to have children outside the country.

Sources and References


[ Full Article ]
Share IVF News on FaceBook   Share IVF News on Twitter   

News: US public open to genome editing and PGT-P to improve college prospects of offspring

Joel Mendes 13 February 2023

A third of Americans said they would be likely to edit the genome of their embryos to improve the university admission chances of their offspring, and 43 percent would be happy to screen embryos for intelligence using polygenic risk scores.

A survey of public attitudes in the US towards genome editing and preimplantation genetic testing using polygenic risk scoring (PGT-P) published in Science also found 41 percent of those surveyed had no moral objection to the genetic editing of embryos despite genome editing of human embryos being illegal in most jurisdictions. A majority of 58 percent stated no moral objection to the use of PGT-P for the selection of embryos for medical or non-medical traits.

Given the lack of regulation of these technologies, the public support surprised the researchers. Lead author Michelle Meyer commented: 'I certainly don't think this is something good. I am concerned about it, the bigger risk is saying nothing and letting this unfold against a laissez-faire regulatory and market system.'

Polygenic screening of embryos is already offered for some traits by some clinics in the US despite its clinical value remaining unproven. To gauge public opinion on using emerging genomic technologies on embryos, economists and public health researchers from the National Bureau of Academic Research, University of South California, University of California Los Angeles, and Harvard University surveyed American adults on their opinions regarding the use of different forms of genetic selection, or genome editing, of embryos created during IVF.

Researchers asked the participants about their opinions on the morality of the three possible interventions to select for certain traits: PGT-P - a genetic test used to assess the risk of an individual embryo developing complex diseases based on the probability that present genetic variations are associated with these diseases, genome editing of IVF embryos (such as with CRISPR) and preparation courses for higher education entrance examinations – a non-genetic intervention that demonstrates attitudes towards higher education. The participants could state whether they felt these options were: morally acceptable, morally wrong, or not a moral issue.

Participants were then asked to rate their willingness out of 100 to use the three options if would increase the likelihood of their offspring being accepted by a top-100 university.

The researchers show some concern given the previous weak performance of polygenic risk scores as a predictor of disease. 'Polygenic indexes are already only weak predictors for most individual adult outcomes, especially for social and behavioural traits' said senior author Dr Patrick Turley. 'Polygenic indexes are designed to work in a different setting than an IVF clinic. These weak predictors will perform even worse when used to select embryos. '

Last year Progress Educational Trust, the charity which publishes BioNews, carried out a survey which found that those under 35 years were more likely to support embryo genome editing for preferred, non-medical traits.

Sources and References


[ Full Article ]
Share IVF News on FaceBook   Share IVF News on Twitter   

News: ART & Embryology training program

Chennai Fertility Center and Research Institute 03 February 2023
ART & Embryology training program

March 2023 Training Batch Schedule - 6th Mar - 20th Mar 2023.

The International School of Embryology was established to offer training for clinicians in advanced reproductive technologies. Our skill and precision to all aspirants help them to know in-depth knowledge and experience. The members of our teaching faculty aim to bring doctors and embryologists to the highest level of knowledge about reproductive techniques and practical capability in the field.

Our courses cover basics in Andrology, embryology, ICSI, and cryosciences (Hands-on).

Limited Seats. For admission Contact  9003111598 / 8428278218


[ Full Article ]
Share IVF News on FaceBook   Share IVF News on Twitter   

Webinar: EXPLORING STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE FEMALE FERTILITY

International IVF Initiative 30 January 2023
EXPLORING STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE FEMALE FERTILITY

Tuesday, 7th February (3 pm EST / 8 pm UK / 9 pm CET)

In collaboration with SIERR

Moderators:
Dr Francesca Klinger and Professor Christiani Andrade Amorim
with panelists Prof Maurizio Zuccotti, Dr Giulia Fiorentino and Dr. Emna Ouni

Presenters:
Prof. Richard Anderson "Ovarian ageing and the impact on female fertility" 

Prof. Evelyn Telfer "The presence of oogonial stem cells in human adult ovaries"

Dr. Sonia Herraiz "Ovarian rejuvenation strategies" 

Roundtable Discussion and Q and A.

REGISTER HERE


[ Full Article ]
Share IVF News on FaceBook   Share IVF News on Twitter   



Join Our Newsletter - Don't Miss Anything!!!

Stay in touch with the latest news by subscribing to our regular email newsletters