Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Application of DNA Fingerprinting using the D1S80 Locus in Lab Classes
Published on: July 17, 2021
A novel single-cell DNA fingerprinting method successfully distinguishes sibling human embryos
Nathan R Treff1, Jing Su, Xin Tao
1Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey, Morristown, New Jersey 07960, USA. ntreff@rmanj.com
Objective:
To validate a novel system for embryonic DNA fingerprinting which can reliably distinguish sibling embryos from each other.
Design:
Prospective, randomized, and blinded study.
Setting:
Academic center for reproductive medicine.
Patient(S):
Blastomeres were obtained from discarded and transferred embryos from six patients undergoing IVF treatment.
Intervention(S):
None.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Single lymphocytes from sibling cell lines and blastomeres from sibling day 3 human embryos were evaluated for accurate assignment of relationship using whole genome amplification and single-nucleotide polymorphism microarrays.
Result(S):
Assignment of single-cell relationships was accomplished with 100% accuracy. We also observed complete agreement between the molecular karyotype and DNA fingerprint-based identification of embryos implanted in three clinical IVF cases after multiple embryo transfer.
Conclusion(S):
These data demonstrate the first single-blastomere DNA fingerprinting technology capable of unequivocal discrimination of sibling human embryos.
