The Effects of Assisted Reproductive Technologies on De Novo Mutations

TL;DR

This review examines whether assisted reproductive technologies affect the occurrence of new genetic mutations in offspring.

Contribution

The paper reviews recent studies to evaluate the link between ART and de novo mutations.

Findings

The relationship between ART and de novo mutations remains inconclusive.

More research is needed to understand the long-term genetic effects of ART.

ART's impact on genomic integrity is a topic of ongoing scientific debate.

Abstract

Recent advances in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have revolutionized
human reproduction, offering hope to millions of couples facing infertility
issues. At the same time, concerns persist regarding the potential impact of
ART on the genomic integrity of offspring conceived through these techniques.
Specifically, questions abound about the effects of these techniques on the
incidence of de novo mutations (DNMs), which are genetic alterations that arise
spontaneously in the germline or during early embryonic development and are
implicated in various human diseases. The extent to which ART directly affects
the rate of de novo mutations has been the subject of ongoing debate. This
review explores recent studies that have investigated the relationship between
ART and DNMs. It underscores the necessity for further research to clarify the
clinical implications and long-term consequences of ART.

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