Genetics researcher Yury Verlinsky

1 genetics researcher

1.1 establishing clinic
1.2 utilizing polar bodies
1.3 significance of research

genetics researcher

soon after arriving, offered research position michael reese hospital in chicago, illinois, ran cytogenetics laboratory. when asked how obtained position, replied of previous experience , because chromosome in language chromosome , microscope microscope. took time outside of job work @ identifying chromosome polymorphisms in down syndrome families , analyze chorionic villus sampling. goal develop modified technique performing chromosomal analysis. research more difficult since, soviet emigres, not allowed have contact colleagues home.

one such friend , colleague lost contact anver kuliev, whom had done research when still in moscow. had worked developing prenatal test administered earlier amniocentesis, goal of allowing woman avoid second-trimester abortion. years later, after verlinsky had settled in u.s., in london scientific meeting , discovered kuliev working in soviet union head of genetics world health organization (who). verlinsky contacted him, met in geneva in 1982, , after began working together, again doing embryonic , genetic research. kuriev later become director of reproductive genetics institute verlinsky established in 1990.

verlinsky expert in pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, genetic testing , chromosome analysis of embryos before transferred woman’s uterus in-vitro fertilization (ivf.) research expanded applications of earlier prenatal , embryonic testing methods allow doctors understand health , future of fetuses.

his diagnostic techniques have become accepted , routinely used prospective parents, couples history of genetic abnormalities or woman on age of 35, when risk of genetically-related disorders higher. tests performed 6 weeks earlier amniocentesis, uses technique called chorionic villus sampling, prospective parents more comfortable considering abortion if major abnormalities or risk factors discovered. in addition, allowing parents select embryo without known genetic disorders, had potential of saving lives of siblings had similar disorders , diseases.

establishing clinic

in 1990, established private reproductive genetics institute in chicago provide prenatal testing. according colleague, dr. norman ginsberg, hard-working scientist, . . . . first in lab in morning , last out @ night. profits work plowed research. rather make himself rich, used money whole range of testing, ginsberg added.

utilizing polar bodies

verlinsky developed ideas genetic screening before doing in-vitro fertilization, says, while viewing 1935 joan miró painting in jerusalem art gallery. observed painting showed 2 disks, 1 red , 1 yellow, floating in space, small, round black object under red one. disks reminded him of human eggs, 1 changing other ejecting black object. in flash of insight, took out business card , wrote polar bodies on of it.

a polar body cell structure found inside ovum, includes package of chromosomes ejected egg before fertilization sperm. verlinsky s insight analyze polar body genetic defects in resulting egg. approach useful when both parents carriers of genetic defect. found using eggs healthy version of gene, child protected if father passed on mutated version, , result, approach produced many healthy pregnancies. later found single cell removed fertilized egg without disturbing subsequent development, , can used genetic diagnosis.

in 2000, technique became notable when helped parents of molly nash, child suffered life-threatening fanconi anemia, conceive son without disease , cells later used save molly s life. in 2002, method helped mother, genetic diagnosis showed likelihood of getting alzheimer s disease, conceive daughter free of gene. case declared medical milestone first use of genetic testing prevent onset form of alzheimer s disease.

significance of research

as result of verlinsky s pre-implantation genetic diagnosis methods, experts today able more test on 200 different genetic disorders , diseases, including fanconi anemia, alzheimer’s disease, cystic fibrosis, thalassemia, down syndrome, tay-sachs, , muscular dystrophy. experts have credited him of firsts in applying p.g.d., such tissue typing determine genetic defect risks , allow use of stem cells newborns treat other diseased family members. dr. andrew la barbera, scientific director american society reproductive medicine, said verlinsky s research had far-reaching impact on reproductive medicine , giant in field enabling couples have children free of genetic diseases , making methods available clinics around world. if wasn t yury, said dr. jamie grifo, program director @ new york university fertility center, knows how far field have come?