DeepSummary
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a process that allows individuals struggling with fertility to become pregnant. It involves stimulating eggs to develop, fertilizing them outside the body, and implanting the embryos in the uterus. However, the process is expensive, time-consuming, and has a low success rate, with only 20-40% of IVF cycles resulting in a live birth for those under 40.
Currently, the quality of embryos is evaluated based on their appearance (morphology) or through genetic testing, which involves taking cells from the embryo and analyzing its chromosomes. This process is invasive and can take weeks or months. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have developed a new test called Silverseek that can detect genetic material (xRNA) released by the embryos into the culture media.
The Silverseek test uses an AI model trained on xRNA profiles to predict the embryo's quality and likelihood of developing into a healthy baby. This non-invasive approach could potentially increase the chances of successful IVF by identifying the most viable embryos without harming them. However, further research and clinical trials are needed to validate the technology before it can be widely used in IVF clinics.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex and expensive process with a relatively low success rate.
- Currently, the quality of embryos in IVF is evaluated based on their appearance (morphology) or through invasive genetic testing.
- Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have developed a non-invasive test called Silverseek that can detect genetic material (xRNA) released by embryos during IVF.
- The Silverseek test uses an AI model trained on xRNA profiles to predict the embryo's quality and likelihood of developing into a healthy baby.
- This approach could potentially increase the chances of successful IVF by identifying the most viable embryos without harming them.
- Further research and clinical trials are needed to validate the Silverseek technology before it can be widely used in IVF clinics.
- Funding and support for research in the field of reproductive health is crucial for developing new technologies and improving outcomes.
- Reproductive health and women's health are often underfunded areas of research.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “One of the biggest barriers to IVF success is that not every egg, not every sperm, not every embryo will lead to a healthy baby. Individuals and couples go through a lot when they go through ivF, and we are on the hunt for the best way to identify embryos that will lead us to healthy, live births.“ by Irene Sue
- “It turned out that using on the order of 50 to 100 genes, the AI model that was trained on those embryos could very well predict the morphology based quality.“ by Sheng Zhong
- “I think it's really important that technology is evaluated in evidencebased before we push it out into clinical care. If this xrna profile turns out to be something that is so promising, then you got to trial it out to see if patients who have embryos picked by using this versus patients who have it used by conventional methods, whether this performs better.“ by Irene Sue
- “And so a lot of whether this type of exciting, novel research technology can translate and be applied to human health, early human development, reproductive health, it depends on how much we as a country value this type of science and value its impact on health and are willing to invest in it.“ by Irene Sue
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Episode Information
Science, Quickly
Scientific American
1/29/24
Today’s episode covers a topic that many parents-to-be have struggled with: fertility. In vitro fertilization offers a path to pregnancy for people fortunate enough to be able to access it. But predicting the success of an implanted embryo is hard. Now researchers are developing a test that could make it easier.