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Comprehensive pre-implantation genetic screening: ethical reflection urgently needed

Nature Reviews Genetics volume 13, page 677 (2012)Cite this article

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Comprehensive testing techniques, such as array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and SNP arrays, are now being introduced and are thought to improve the outcome of the procedure2,3,4. Should clinical trials show that array-based testing for aneuploidy improves IVF outcomes, it is likely that this technology will become standard in the IVF clinic. It is also conceivable that next-generation sequencing (NGS) could soon be used for PGS, but this has not yet been clinically validated.

a first question concerns the notion of 'the best embryo': how should this be defined and by whom?

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPERS

  1. Mastenbroek, S. et al. Preimplantation genetic screening: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. Hum. Reprod. Update 17, 454–466 (2011)

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  2. Scott, R. T. Jr et al. Comprehensive chromosome screening is highly predictive of the reproductive potential of human embryos: a prospective, blinded, nonselection study. Fertil. Steril. 97, 870–875 (2012)

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  3. Yang, Z. et al. Selection of single blastocysts for fresh transfer via standard morphology assessment alone and with array CGH for good prognosis IVF patients: results from a randomized pilot study. Mol. Cytogenet. 5, 24 (2012)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kristien Hens, Wybo Dondorp, Joep Geraedts and Guido de Wert are at GROW, School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, PO BOX 616, 6200 Maastricht, The Netherlands.,

    Kristien Hens, Wybo Dondorp, Joep Geraedts & Guido de Wert

  2. Kristien Hens, Wybo Dondorp and Guido de Wert are at Health, Ethics and Society, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, PO BOX 616, 6200 Maastricht, The Netherlands.,

    Kristien Hens, Wybo Dondorp & Guido de Wert

  3. Kristien Hens and Guido de Wert are at the Centre for Society and the Life Sciences (CSG), PO BOX 9010, 650 Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,

    Kristien Hens & Guido de Wert

  4. Joep Geraedts is at the Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Maastricht University, PO BOX 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.,

    Joep Geraedts

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  1. Kristien Hens
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  2. Wybo Dondorp
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  3. Joep Geraedts
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  4. Guido de Wert
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Correspondence to Kristien Hens.

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Hens, K., Dondorp, W., Geraedts, J. et al. Comprehensive pre-implantation genetic screening: ethical reflection urgently needed. Nat Rev Genet 13, 677 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg3334

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