Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
12:32
Chromosome Screening of Human Preimplantation Embryos by Using Spent Culture Medium: Sample Collection and Chromosomal Ploidy Analysis
Published on: September 7, 2021
Impact of chromosomal abnormalities on preimplantation embryo development
Carmen Rubio1, Lorena Rodrigo, Amparo Mercader
1Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain. c.rubio@ivi.es
Prenatal Diagnosis
|June 5, 2007
Summary
Chromosomal abnormalities negatively impact embryo development, with normal embryos reaching blastocyst stage more often. However, some abnormal embryos still develop, showing potential for implantation and pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Genetics
- Embryology
Background:
- Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is crucial for evaluating embryo viability.
- Numerical chromosomal abnormalities can affect early embryonic development and implantation success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how numerical chromosomal abnormalities influence preimplantation embryo development.
- To assess the developmental potential of aneuploid and mosaic embryos.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 6936 embryos from 1245 women undergoing PGD.
- Indications for screening included recurrent miscarriage, implantation failure, advanced maternal age, and male factor infertility.
- Embryo biopsy on day 3, co-culture to day 5, and subsequent embryo transfer.
Main Results:
- Euploid embryos had significantly higher blastocyst rates (68.2%) than aneuploid (42.8%) and mosaic (53.7%) embryos.
- Among autosomal aneuploidies, trisomies showed higher blastocyst rates than monosomies in women over 36.
- Sex chromosome aneuploidies exhibited similar blastocyst rates between trisomies and monosomy X.
Conclusions:
- Certain chromosomal abnormalities lead to negative selection during preimplantation development.
- A notable proportion of chromosomally abnormal embryos can reach the blastocyst stage, retaining implantation potential.
Related Concept Videos
02:57Meiosis vs. Mitosis
Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
01:07Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
01:21Nondisjunction
Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate correctly and move to the opposite poles of the cells. This produces daughter cells with abnormal chromosome numbers. Nondisjunction is common during anaphase I or anaphase II of meiosis. Mutations in synaptonemal complex proteins that attach homologous chromosomes increase the chances of nondisjunction in anaphase I of meiosis I. In contrast, mutations in topoisomerases and condensins that hold sister...
01:29Nondisjunction
During meiosis, chromosomes occasionally separate improperly. This occurs due to failure of homologous chromosome separation during meiosis I or failed sister chromatid separation during meiosis II. In some species, notably plants, nondisjunction can result in an organism with an entire additional set of chromosomes, which is called polyploidy. In humans, nondisjunction can occur during male or female gametogenesis and the resulting gametes possess one too many or one too few chromosomes.
02:30Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance
Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
01:59CRISPR
Genome editing technologies allow scientists to modify an organism’s DNA via the addition, removal, or rearrangement of genetic material at specific genomic locations. These types of techniques could potentially be used to cure genetic disorders such as hemophilia and sickle cell anemia. One popular and widely used DNA-editing research tool that could lead to safe and effective cures for genetic disorders is the CRISPR-Cas9 system. CRISPR-Cas9 stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short...