Termed as preimplantation diagnosis, this procedure is conducted on embryos during their early developmental stages to ascertain whether they carry any genetic disorders. Typically, this diagnostic method is employed after in vitro fertilization (IVF) if the parents are already aware of being carriers of a particular genetic disorder. By screening the embryos before implantation, potential genetic issues can be identified, enabling informed decisions about which embryos to select for implantation, thereby reducing the risk of passing on the genetic disorder to the offspring.
Multiple eggs undergo fertilization, and these fertilized eggs are nurtured for a few days within specialized laboratories until they reach the early stages of development, typically after the first two or three cell divisions, resulting in clusters of around eight cells. During this process, one cell is extracted from each cluster to undergo DNA analysis. By analyzing the DNA, embryos that are confirmed to be healthy can be identified. These healthy embryos are then selected for implantation into the mother’s uterus (womb), increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy and the birth of a healthy child.