PRE-IMPLANTATION GENDER SCREENING KIT AND METHOD

摘要

A kit and method for determining the gender of a human's or other mammal's pre-implantation embryo with increased accuracy. The method comprises exposing genetic material from one or more cells removed from the embryo to multiple labeled hybridization agents that will detect markers associated with (1) the Y chromosome, but not the X chromosome, (2) the X chromosome, but not the Y chromosome, and (3) both X and Y chromosomes. The gender is determined by detecting the presence or absence of labeled hybridized agents in the sample after washing, or indicates that the test results are not reliable. The kit contains labeled hybridization agents for conducting the pre-implantation gender screening method.

主权项

1. A method of determining the gender of a pre-implantation mammalian embryo by sampling one or more embryonic cells, the method comprising the steps of:
removing at least one cell from an embryo, the cell containing genetic material; exposing the genetic material to a first labeled hybridization agent that will hybridize to a Y chromosome, but not an X chromosome; exposing the genetic material to a second labeled hybridization agent that will hybridize to the X chromosome, but not the Y chromosome; exposing the genetic material to a third labeled hybridization agent that will hybridize to both the X chromosome and the Y chromosome; and, determining which labeled hybridization agents hybridized on the X and Y chromosomes.