A novel single-cell DNA fingerprinting method successfully distinguishes sibling human embryos

ObjectiveTo validate a novel system for embryonic DNA fingerprinting which can reliably distinguish sibling embryos from each other.DesignProspective, randomized, and blinded study.SettingAcademic 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.