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Genetic screening of human embryos may eventually eradicate inherited diseases ranging from breast cancer to cystic fibrosis.
Genetic screening of human embryos may eventually eradicate inherited diseases ranging from breast cancer to cystic fibrosis.
Advances in gene technology are creating a host of ethical dilemmas, writes Rachel Browne.
GENETIC screening of human embryos may eventually eradicate inherited diseases ranging from breast cancer to cystic fibrosis.
Using a technique known as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), specialists can select a couple's healthy embryo for implantation in the womb and discard ones that are damaged.
The technique is generally used for couples affected by a known inherited disease, most commonly severe conditions such as Huntington disease or cystic fibrosis.

Australian PGD pioneer Dr Leeanda Wilton - who has been working in the field for more than 20 years - said it had the potential to eradicate diseases that have haunted a family for generations.
''[The parents] … don't want to see future generations suffer as maybe their parents, or an aunt or uncle, have suffered,'' she said. ''If you have the choice to do that, why wouldn't you?''

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