Introduction. Numerical aberrations (whole chromosomal aneuploidy) have been
considered one of the most important factors leading to implantation failure
and early miscarriages in patients undergoing assisted reproductive
procedures. Embryo selection is mainly based on morphological assessment;
however, embryos produced from aneuploid gametes cannot be distinguished from
euploid based on morphological characteristics. Detection of aneuploidy in
human embryos. Thanks to the introduction of molecular-genetic screening of
embryos, it is possible to identify aneuploid embryos via preimplantation
genetic screening/diagnosis and thus select the best embryos based on their
ploidy. Array comparative genomic hybridization is a molecular technique
which allows ploidy analysis of the entire genome amplification from a single
cell, within 24 hours after polar body, blastomere or trophectoderm cell
biopsy. Trophectoderm cell biopsy is considered the most reliable screening
approach given the lower mosaicism appearance at the blastocyst stage.
Conclusion. This paper points to the importance and necessity of molecular
analysis in embryo selection. Further investigations and improvements are
required, because this technology has only recently become available in
clinical practice in the in vitro fertilization procedure.