The Ethical Implications of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis

The development of in vitro fertilization in the 1970s has revolutionized the treatment of infertility. The ability to culture embryos has allowed for the development of the preimplantation genetic diagnosis. This involves removing a cell from the developing embryos for genetic testing before choosing one to implant. Just like prenatal diagnosis, it is used to screen for various genetic diseases before birth. For women of advanced maternal age or couples with known genetic mutations, the ability to screen of embryos free of certain genetic mutations is reassuring.