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>> on the cover

A microscopic photo of

an embryo biopsy — a

single cell is removed

three days after egg

insemination.

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Microscopic Miracles

Modern technology screens embryos for Jewish genetic disorders.

Robin Schwartz

Special to the Jewish News

uman genes are a part of the
makeup of each and every one of
us; they're the blueprints in our
cells that determine whether our hair is
straight or curly, our eyes brown or blue.
It's mind-boggling to think about, but

scientists have discovered that each cell in
the human body contains 20,000-25,000
unique genes, and we're made of trillions
of cells. We're complex individuals, filled
with microscopic bits and blips of infor-
mation, yet we all start out the exact same
way — as a tiny speck barely visible to the
human eye.
"It's important to point out that even

a minute error in the genetic code, like
a single typo in a 1,000-page novel, can
lead to devastating health consequences','
said Dr. Michael Mersol-Barg, medical
and laboratory director for the Center
for Reproductive Medicine & Surgery in
Birmingham.
"New technology can filter many of

Microscopic Miracles on page 24

A Story Of Life-invigorating Echoes

I

t is a story of inspiration and imagination – a

compelling account of medical advances provid-
ing hope to couples in the Jewish community who
carry genetic-related diseases.
This intriguing story of assisted reproduction
offers reverberating potential for healthy babies
free of the identified diseases.
The JN felt the story had not been told on a wide
scale, however.
So when the JN received a call from a local cou-
ple who had undergone successful counseling and
treatment from a Birmingham reproductive endo-
crinologist, Dr. Michael Mersol-Barg, saying they
wanted to share the story behind the birth of their

daughter last year, we shifted into story-planning
gear.
We felt it was important to help JN readers nego-
tiate the two-step pathway to preventing passage
of genetic disorders from parents to children.
Interested couples first submit to a screening
to determine if both carry a diseased gene preva-
lent in the Jewish community. Carrier couples are
directed to seek medical care from a specialist and
to undergo in-vitro fertilization with genetic screen-
ing of embryos; only embryos without the disease
for which carrier couples are at risk are placed into
the womb.
When our host couple and their medical doctor,

as well as another local couple with a similar story,
were all on board, and we were assured access to
the Jewish Genetic Disease Consortium for impor-
tant context, we felt comfortable moving ahead
with today's cover story by Contributing Writer
Robin Schwartz.
A companion piece on the rabbinic perspective of
assisted reproduction rounds out the JN presenta-
tion.
As always, we welcome your thoughts on this
ever-evolving subject. Please direct submissions to:
letters@thejewishnews.com .

— Contributing Editor Robert Sklar

June 30 s 2011

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