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![Switzerland: sharp increase in the number of abortions linked to Down syndrome](https://www.genethique.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/17_trisomie21_0-1080x675.jpg)
Switzerland: sharp increase in the number of abortions linked to Down syndrome
In Switzerland, according to the statistics issued by the Vaud Canton and the CHUV (Vaud University Hospital Centre), Down syndrome-related abortions are sharply rising: almost 90% of women terminate their pregnancy. From 4 in every 10,000 births in 1989, the number...
![New Zealand authorises the first “saviour sibling”](https://www.genethique.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/04dpi_4-1.jpg)
New Zealand authorises the first “saviour sibling”
For the first time, a family in New Zealand has been allowed to create "a saviour sibling" to treat their eldest son who is suffering from a hereditary disease known as "Sickle-cell anaemia ". The mother is in her thirteenth week of pregnancy. The parents have...
![Switzerland: heading towards a ban on gender-related abortion?](https://www.genethique.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/01_dpn_4-1.png)
Switzerland: heading towards a ban on gender-related abortion?
The Swiss Science Commission unanimously recommended the adoption of a State Council(1) motion aimed at toughening up legislation relating to premature prenatal analyses to ban gender-related abortions (Gènéthique press review on September 17th, 2014). ...
![UM171, a molecule capable of multiplying umbilical blood stem cells](https://www.genethique.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/16_cellules_souches_3-1.jpg)
UM171, a molecule capable of multiplying umbilical blood stem cells
Scientists at the Immunology and Oncology Research Institute (IORI) at the University of Montreal have just announced the discovery of a new molecule that can multiply stem cells in one unit of umbilical blood. This molecule is UM171. According to Dr. Guy...
![“Social freezing”: where is the desire to slow down the biological clock actually heading?](https://www.genethique.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/08_pma_3-566x675.jpg)
“Social freezing”: where is the desire to slow down the biological clock actually heading?
The Belgian website, levif.be, is focusing on a new technique presented by its team of designers as an "alternative to freezing oocytes to counteract the effects of age-related infertility". But the announcement has raised a number of questions in Belgium: "freezing...
![Palliative care: Should we fear the closing of units?](https://www.genethique.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/02_fin_de_vie_soins_palliatifs_13.jpg)
Palliative care: Should we fear the closing of units?
"Palliative care: Should we fear the closing of units? " this was the theme of the day organized by Jeanne Garnier Medical House at the national assembly, on last 9 May. While we are talking a lot about palliative care and Leonetti law of 25 April 2005 insists on the...
![Life sciences: what value should be given to positive correlations between two variables?](https://www.genethique.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/02_genome_0-1.jpg)
Life sciences: what value should be given to positive correlations between two variables?
In a “carte blanche” approach given to Nicolas Gompel and Benjamin Prud'homme by the French daily newspaper, Le Monde, the two geneticists question the value to be given to correlations made between sequenced data. They stated that it is nowadays possible to produce a...
![The ECHR will examine Vincent Lambert’s case directly in the Grand Chamber](https://www.genethique.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/juges_cedh_0-1080x675.jpg)
The ECHR will examine Vincent Lambert’s case directly in the Grand Chamber
In a press release, the Chamber receiving the appeal of Lambert et al v. France announced that it was switching the case to the Grand Chamber of the ECHR in an attempt to avoid any appeal within three months against the judgement passed in the first chamber....
![Wallonia – contraception: an end to exceptional rules for family planning clinics?](https://www.genethique.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/22_contraception_1.jpg)
Wallonia – contraception: an end to exceptional rules for family planning clinics?
In Wallonia, family planning centres are authorised to issue contraceptive pills and morning-after pill in addition to pharmacists. However, a royal decree of 1967 states that only pharmacists are authorised to dispense this type of pill. Thus the Walloon...
![Texas: validation of a law restricting recourse to abortion](https://www.genethique.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/04_ivg_img_7.jpg)
Texas: validation of a law restricting recourse to abortion
In November 2013, the American Supreme Court refused to suspend the application of a law restricting access to abortion (Gènéthique press review on November 22nd, 2013), thereby confirming the decision taken by the Texas Appeal Court (Gènéthique press review...
![Sweden: first birth after uterus transplantation](https://www.genethique.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/10_grossesse_3-1.jpg)
Sweden: first birth after uterus transplantation
In September 2014, a Swedish woman who was born without a uterus gave birth to a child after having undergone a uterus transplant one year earlier. Carried out by the team led by Professor Mats Brannstrom, specialising in obstetric gynaecology at the University of...
![MAP spin-offs: a lesbian couple complain about their black baby](https://www.genethique.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/justice_usa.jpg)
MAP spin-offs: a lesbian couple complain about their black baby
In Ohio, a lesbian couple have decided to lodge a complaint against a sperm bank after having a black baby following insemination. At 4 months pregnant, Jennifer Cramblett was informed by the Midwest Sperm Bank (Ohio) with which she was dealing that a...