Yury Verlinskyand Anver Kuliev Reproductive Genetics Institute, Illinois Masonic Medical Center, 836 W. Wellington chicago, IL 60657 Although introduction of a first trimester prenatal diagnosis by chorionic viIIus sampling (CVS) has considerably improved the possibility for prevention of genetic diseases, it requires a selective abortion in case of an affected fetus. Following the direction of an earlier prenatal diagnosis and to avoid the need for abortion, preimplantation genetic diagnosis has been initiated based on polar body removal and pre-embryo biopsy. The First International symposium on Preimplantation Genetics, Chicago, September 17-19, 1990, was organized to explore these important developments, to review the state of knowledge in the field, and to address existing problems to be solved for developing and improving current approaches for preimplantation diagnosis of genetic disorders. A growing interest in the subject was obvious from the wide attendance of the meeting: over 250 scientists from 19 countries participated. This was the first attempt to put together the advances in different areas of basic and applied research relevant to Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, with the multidisciplinary scientific program including the sessions on embryology, micromanipulation and biopsy, genetic analysis of gametes and pre-embryos, IVF, gene expression and gene therapy, and ethical and legal issues. The deliberations of the Symposium presented in the above mentioned sessions, which comprise the contents of correspond­ ing sections of the Proceedings, open a newarea in medical research based on the interaction of IVF and New Genetics.

Inhalt

I. Embryological Aspects of Preimplantation Genetics.- Oocyte Development.- Experimental Cytogenetics of Preimplantation Development.- Changing Physiological Systems in the Preimplantation Embryo.- II. Micromanipulation and Biopsy of Gametes and Preembryos.- Biopsy of Human Gametes.- Manipulation Techniques with Potential Use in Animal Agriculture.- Enhancement of Fertilization and Hatching Using Micromanipulation.- Biopsy of Human Cleavage Stage Embryos and Sexing by DNA Amplification.- Biopsy of Blastocyst.- III. Genetic Analysis of Gametes and Preembryos.- Chromosomal Analysis of Human Spermatozoa.- Chromosome Analysis of Oocytes and Embryos.- Preimplantation Diagnosis of Genetic Disease Using Enzyme Assays.- Single Sperm PCR Analysis-Implications for Preimplantation Genetic Disease Diagnosis.- Preimplantation Genetic Analysis Using PCR.- Co-amplification of X- and Y-Specific Sequences for Sexing Preimplantation Human Embryos.- In Situ Hybridization of Blastomeres from Embryo Biopsy.- IV. Clinical Aspects of Preimplantation Genetics.- In Vitro Fertilization and Preimplantation Diagnosis.- Uterine Lavage for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis.- Assessing Loss Rates in the Preimplantation Stages of Gestation.- Practical Considerations in Preimplantation Diagnosis.- V. Gene Expression in Preimplantation Development and Gene Therapy.- Evolutionary Analysis of Mammalian Homeobox Genes.- Gene Expression in Preimplantation Embryos.- Somatic Gene Therapy.- Strategies for Human Germ Line Gene Therapy.- VI. Ethical and Legal Aspects of Preimplantation Genetics.- Ethical Issues in the Control of Genetic Diseases.- Ethical and Selected Medical Aspects of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis.- Legal and Ethical Issues in Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis.- VII. Technical Aspects of Preimplantation Genetics.- Techniques for Micromanipulation and Biopsy of Human Gametes and Preembryos.- Techniques for Microsurgical Fertilization.- Method for Obtaining Human Sperm Chromosomes.- Reliable Technique for Chromosomal Preparations from Mammalian Oocytes, Preimplantation Embryos and Isolated Blastomeres.- DNA Amplification of Y-Specific Repeat Sequences for Sexing Preimplantation Human Embryos.- DNA Analysis of Gametes and Embryos: Analysis of Delta-F508 Cystic Fibrosis Mutation in Single Cells.- Summary.