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Nature 444, 12-13 (2 November 2006) | doi:10.1038/444012b; Published online 1 November 2006

Safer embryo tests could boost IVF pregnancy rates

Helen Pearson

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Health of cells may be revealed by tell-tale molecules.

It may soon be possible to assess the health of an embryo created by in vitro fertilization (IVF) without interfering with a single cell on its future body. New assays that look for tell-tale molecules secreted by healthy embryos could help reproductive biologists select the embryos that are most likely to produce a baby.