Babies bred for stem cells

2004-05-05 20:01

Washington - Parents with children who have bone marrow disorders were able to have babies selected as embryos for their ability to donate stem cells to help their sick siblings, a medical journal reported on Wednesday.

In 2002-2003, nine couples with children affected by acute lymphoid leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia or Diamond-Blackfan anaemia volunteered for an in-vitro fertilisation programme, said the journal of the American Medical Association.

Through a genetic test, scientists selected embryos that, when born, could be stem-cell donors for a sick sibling.

From a total of 199 embryos, scientists selected 45, with 28 embryos finally implanted. Five babies were born as a result.

"One sibling with DBA (Diamond-Blackfan anaemia) received transplantation and is no longer red-blood-cell transfusion dependent, and the others are in preparation for transplantation or are in remission," the researchers wrote in the medical journal.

Dr Anver Kuliev of the Reproductive Genetics Institute in Chicago was the study's principal investigator.

Selection of embryos to obtain their genetic profile has been used for about 15 years in detecting genetic ailments, but its use to choose embryos for stem-cell donorship is rare.

Researchers noted that the parents who used the technique already wanted another baby.

- AFP