PREIMPLANTATION SINGLE-CELL ANALYSES OF DYSTROPHIN GENE DELETIONS USING WHOLE GENOME AMPLIFICATION

Primer extension preamplification (PEP) increases the scope and capaci ty of single cell genetic diagnosis by generating sufficient template to perform multiple subsequent DNA analyses using the polymerase chain reaction. We report the simultaneous analysis of single cells at five commonly deleted dystrophin exons and at the ZFX/ZFY loci. Ninety thr ee percent of PEP reactions with single amniocytes, chorionic villus c ells and blastomeres were successful, and a blinded analysis of single lymphoblasts from affected males resulted in 93% diagnostic accuracy, demonstrating its applicability in preimplantation prevention of Duch enne muscular dystrophy. Transfer of unaffected male embryos and impro ved diagnostic reliability are achieved with the ability to perform re plicate multilocus analyses from the same blastomere.