The House is not in session this week, providing lawmakers a timeout after last week’s tumultuous Democratic sit-in. But senators will be in town, and they have a fight of their own coming over a spending package to address the Zika public health threat.
Category: Fertility Headlines
Supreme Court Strikes Down Abortion Restrictions in Texas
The Supreme Court has overturned a Texas law requiring clinics that provide abortions to have surgical facilities and doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. The law was predicted to close many clinics and further reduce availability of abortion in Texas; the court has ruled the law violated the Constitution.
Why Do We Inherit Mitochondrial DNA Only From Our Mothers?
Our mitochondrial DNA accounts for a small portion of our total DNA. It contains just 37 of the 20,000 to 25,000 protein-coding genes in our body. But it is notably distinct from DNA in the nucleus. Unlike nuclear DNA, which comes from both parents, mitochondrial DNA comes only from the mother. Nobody fully understands why or how fathers’ mitochondrial DNA gets wiped from cells. An international team of scientists recently studied mitochondria in the sperm of a roundworm called C. elegans to find answers.
When Parents Use Egg Donors, Telling Kids Early May be Best
When children learn at an early age that their parents used an egg donor, the disclosure process is easier than when the kids don’t hear the facts until they’re older, a recent study suggests.
Broker Accused of Stealing from Clients Trying to Have Babies Through Surrogacy
The founder of a San Diego-based business has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that he stole more than $2 million from infertile clients who sought his help in finding surrogacy services.
Bill Covering In Vitro Fertilization for Injured Veterans Clears the House
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed an appropriations bill that includes a provision to pay for assisted reproductive technology for veterans who suffered injuries that prevent them from having a child naturally.
Endometriosis Might Be Determined By Blood Test, Study Shows
Pennsylvania State University researchers have revealed that lipid metabolism, a parameter easily measured with a blood test, is different in mice models of endometriosis. The finding may ultimately lead to a new diagnosing tool for endometriosis patients.
Bioethics in China: No Wild East
The first and only published papers to describe genome modification in human embryos have come from Chinese laboratories. For some, this is another signal of China’s successful transformation from a closed society focused on farming and the manufacturing of commodities to a world leader in innovation. For others, these studies are the latest in a list of feats reported over the past decade that reflect the country’s lax regulation or cultural indifference to fundamental ethical tensions.
Fertility Treatment Not Tied to Twin Birth Defects
Twins born after fertility treatments may be susceptible to different — and fewer — birth defects than other twins, new research suggests. The study confirms that twins have a higher risk of birth defects than singletons, but it questions the notion that fertility treatments contribute to those abnormalities.
Infertile Women Could Get New Wombs Grown from Stem Cells Within 10 Years, Says Transplant Pioneer
Infertile women could be implanted with new wombs grown from their own stem cells within 10 years, the doctor who achieved the first uterus transplant has predicted.