From test-tube babies to disease-free future

On July 25, 1978, when Louise Brown, a blonde, blue-eyed squalling infant made history as the world's first test-tube baby, the reaction was more foreboding than that to cloning. The ``truck driver's mircacle child,'' as Associated Press then called the child, triggered speculations about human-animal hybrids and monster-babies.

But Prof. Bob Edwards, the Cambridge-based reproductive scientist behind the daring experiment, had the last laugh. In Virtro Fertilisation (IVF) the technique he used for Louise Brown, had since become a standard reproductive procedure and helped thousands of childless couples all over the world.

At 75, Prof. Edwards is not basking in an old glory, but is raring to conquer new frontiers. Molecular genetics and IVF for a diverse range of medical applications are his concerns now.

``Using IVF, 15 cows can produce the clotting factor required for the entire Europe,'' he tells

G. Pramod Kumar.

PROF. EDWARDS hardly sees any improvement in the efficacy of the technique that produced the first ever test tube baby. Though two decades have passed, still the success rate remains the same because many of the implanted embryos degnerate in the womb. There had been substantial research, but most of them aimed at tinkering with hormones. ``These hormones picked up the embroy only after the damage,'' he says. ``We spent all the money on endocrinology.''

But molecular genetics, a more fundamental way of looking at life, promises to change the scene. Using molecular genetics, one can see if the embryo, which results from the fertilisation of the egg and the sperm in the ``test-tube,'' is transplantable. ``We can now look at polarisation and timing in the embryo and avoid the defective ones.'' Using this, by transplanting just one embryo, one can hope for a result of 50 per cent implantability.

``That is using a single embryo,'' stresses the scientist, who was in the city to receive the ``For the Sake of Honour'' award of Rotary Club of Ambattur. In IVF, for better results, most doctors use several eggs for fertilisation and put several embryos into the mother's womb. But this often results in multiple pregnancies.

``Once the process of selection is perfected, this practice should be legally banned,'' says the scientist, who originally studied agricultural chemistry before switching over to zoology. ``It is the biggest cause of maternal disappointment.''Molecular genetics can also be used to avoid diseases. According to him, by looking at the genetic profile of the embryo, doctors can predict the diseases the child might develop. The doctor can then look for a disease-free embryo.

But, there are ethical questions. For instance, if an embryo is found to carry the genes for dementia, is it ethical to inform the parents that they might also develop the illness?

His interest in reproductive medicine is as diverse as his personal interest which ranges from hill-walking to classical music. So, he sees yet another opportunity in IVF - for treatment of diseases. According to him, the stem cells are all in the embryo and by growing embryos, one can produce these cells that can be transplanted for treating illnesses. For instance, people can use nerve stem cells, developed this way, for treating some serious neurological problems.IVF can also produce medicines. An example is the milk of cows, which is genetically tinkered in the embryonic stage. From this milk, one can get precious medicines, that too in large quantities.

But Prof. Edwards, who also edits the RBM Online journal along with the Indian editors, Dr. Pandian and Dr. Anandkumar, is not as excited about cloning as he is about other possibilities.

``I haven't seen anybody worth cloning.''

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