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Articles by Georgia Everett
Man seeks High Court ruling to use frozen embryos after wife's death
Man seeks High Court ruling to use frozen embryos after wife's death 9 May 2022 Appeared in BioNews 1143 A widower is seeking High Court approval to use a single remaining embryo he created with his deceased wife, for which he has no written consent. Ted Jennings and his wife, Fern-Marie Choya, underwent multiple rounds of IVF before her death in 2019. Choya conceived twins by IVF but died from a uterine rupture 18-weeks into the pregnancy.
Woman terminates pregnancy after embryo mix-up
Woman terminates pregnancy after embryo mix-up 11 April 2022 Appeared in BioNews 1140 A Massachusetts woman decided to terminate her pregnancy conceived via IVF last year after discovering the embryo transferred was not one genetically related to her. Fearing a custody battle after childbirth the couple decided to end the pregnancy at six months, days before it would have become illegal to do so.
Podcast Review: Donor Sperm and Treatment Abroad
Podcast Review: Donor Sperm and Treatment Abroad 20 December 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1126 The Fertility Podcast, hosted by Natalie Silverman and Kate Davies, is a weekly show that delves into a diverse selection of fertility-related topics. Silverman has struggled with fertility issues herself and her cohost Davies is an independent fertility nurse consultant.
Woman needs High Court permission to use late husband's sperm
Woman needs High Court permission to use late husband's sperm 13 December 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1125 A widow must go to the High Court for permission to use her deceased husband's frozen sperm. Daniel Payne froze sperm in 2010 prior to undergoing chemotherapy. He and his wife Jade subsequently sought IVF treatment on several occasions but postponed each time because of his illness.
Cancer cells grow by sucking mitochondria out of immune cells
Cancer cells grow by sucking mitochondria out of immune cells 29 November 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1123 Cancer cells can form tentacle-like structures to steal energy-producing mitochondria from immune cells, according to new research. Cancers must evade the immune system to progress. Gaining a better understanding of how cancer cells do this is critical in the search for the development of next-generation immunotherapies.
Book Review: You Got Anything Stronger?
Book Review: You Got Anything Stronger? 29 November 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1123 When Gabrielle Union announced that her second tell-all book, You Got Anything Stronger?, would delve into her surrogacy journey, despite not personally being a fan of celebrity autobiographies, I must admit I was excited. Black women are thought to be twice as likely to experience infertility, and yet are half as likely to seek treatment. Infertility is seen as a taboo topic in Black communities.
DNA test uncovers IVF sperm mix-up 11 years later
DNA test uncovers IVF sperm mix-up 11 years later 15 November 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1121 A Utah couple is suing their IVF clinic after discovering that sperm from another patient was used to conceive their son. Donna and Vanner Johnson had their second child, Tim, after IVF treatment at the University of Utah Centre for Reproductive Medicine.
California couple sues fertility clinic over embryo mix-up
California couple sues fertility clinic over embryo mix-up 15 November 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1121 A California couple is suing a US fertility clinic for transferring the wrong embryo during IVF treatment. Alexander and Daphna Cardinale conceived their second child using IVF and gave birth to a daughter in September 2019. Genetic testing revealed that the newborn was unrelated to either parent.
Functional sperm developed in vitro from primate embryonic stem cells
Functional sperm developed in vitro from primate embryonic stem cells 25 October 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1118 Stem cells from rhesus macaque monkeys have been used to make sperm in a lab. The study, published as a preproof paper in Fertility and Sterility Science, is the first to demonstrate making functional sperm cells in vitro using primate embryonic stem cells.
Henrietta Lacks' estate sues Thermo Fisher over HeLa cell profits
Henrietta Lacks' estate sues Thermo Fisher over HeLa cell profits 18 October 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1117 The family of Henrietta Lacks is suing biotechnology company Thermo Fisher for profiting from cells taken without her consent. Henrietta Lacks, a 31-year-old African-American woman died from cervical cancer in 1951. Cells taken from her tumour were used to create an immortal cell line, known as HeLa cells, in the first human cells to be grown successfully outside the human body.
Pancreatic organoids grown on synthetic structure give insight into cancer
Pancreatic organoids grown on synthetic structure give insight into cancer 20 September 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1113 Pancreatic organoids, grown using a newly developed gel, have enabled scientists to better understand pancreatic cancer. Researchers developed a novel synthetic gel to mimic the environment of pancreatic tumour cells and grew miniature replicas of the pancreas called 'organoids' using both mice and human pancreatic cells.
Book Review: Fertility Issues
Book Review: Fertility Issues 13 September 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1112 Fertility Issues is one of a series of educational booklets from Independence Educational Publishers, aimed at children aged over 11 in key stages 3 (KS3), 4, and above, which aims to present and explore contemporary social issues in an unbiased way. Previous volumes have focused on issues such as poverty, animal rights, and the censorship debate, among others.
Confusion over what GDPR legislation means for genomic data
Confusion over what GDPR legislation means for genomic data 6 September 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1111 Reconciling the need to share genomic data to improve public health with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) legislation is complex, claimed a presentation at the European Human Genetics Conference (see BioNews 1110).
Ten-year limit on egg freezing to be extended
Ten-year limit on egg freezing to be extended 6 September 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1111 The UK Government has announced that the ten-year limit on storing frozen eggs, sperm and embryos will be scrapped. The current limit of ten years applies to most frozen embryos and gametes and will be replaced by storage periods that can be renewed every ten years up to a maximum of 55 years.
IVF add-ons: are they supported by evidence?
IVF add-ons: are they supported by evidence? 9 August 2021 By Sarah Lensen Research Fellow, University of Melbourne, Australia Appeared in BioNews 1107 IVF add-ons are procedures, techniques or medicines which can be used in addition to standard IVF protocols. They are usually offered by IVF clinics, and used by patients, with the hope that they will improve the chance of IVF success.
Genetic mechanism behind fibroid development discovered
Genetic mechanism behind fibroid development discovered 9 August 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1107 Researchers have identified that variants in genes responsible for DNA packing in the cell, could lead to the development of fibroids. Fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyoma, are benign tumours that grow in the uterine wall and can cause symptoms such as severe menstrual bleeding, pain and infertility. They are a leading cause of hysterectomy globally.
Why are there lower IVF success rates for black women?
Why are there lower IVF success rates for black women? 26 July 2021 By Antonette Milligan Antonette Milligan is a pseudonym. She is a professional black women who worked in the city, sharing her own personal experience to benefit others so that lessons can be learned. Appeared in BioNews 1105 When the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) published data in March showing black patients had the lowest chances of successful treatment in the UK, it came as no surprise to me at all.
Israel will allow same sex couples to access surrogacy
Israel will allow same sex couples to access surrogacy 19 July 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1104 Israel's Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex couples and single men will be able to become parents through surrogacy. The court had previously ruled that the law allowing only heterosexual couples and single women to access surrogacy was discriminatory (see BioNews 1037) and gave the government a year to revise the legislation. This deadline passed in March this year without changes being made.
Childhood obesity linked to genomic instability which is a hallmark of most cancers
Childhood obesity linked to genomic instability which is a hallmark of most cancers 5 July 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1102 Obese children and adolescents experience higher levels of genomic instability, potentially increasing the risk of cancer in adulthood, a study has shown. Genomic instability can lead to an increased rate of DNA mutation in a cell and therefore a higher likelihood of cancer development.
$15 million awarded for eggs and embryos lost in tank failure
$15 million awarded for eggs and embryos lost in tank failure 14 June 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1099 The first trial over a California fertility clinic's cryogenic tank failure concluded by awarding $15 million to five plaintiffs. Three women who lost frozen eggs and a couple who lost embryos were awarded compensation for their treatment costs and their lost eggs/embryos, but also for the 'pain, suffering and emotional distress' of being deprived of the chance to have biological children.
UK's success rate for IVF has increased
UK's success rate for IVF has increased 1 June 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1097 More single women and same-sex couples are opting for IVF as the success rate continues to improve, according to new data from the UK regulator. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) examined trends in fertility treatment numbers and patient demographics from 1991 to 2019.
Homeopathy article banned after claiming it can help infertility
Homeopathy article banned after claiming it can help infertility 24 May 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1096 The UK advertising regulator has concluded that a page on Homeopathy UK's website discouraged people from seeking essential medical treatment for conditions including infertility.
Surrogacy couple win court costs after challenging hotel quarantine
Surrogacy couple win court costs after challenging hotel quarantine 4 May 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1093 An Irish couple who challenged quarantine rules which could have prevented them from returning home with their newborn baby, have been awarded legal costs by the High Court. Mark Hedderman and Sinead Hedderman Gallagher, travelled to Ukraine in April in order to be present for the birth of their son who was carried by a surrogate.
Mitochondrial genes in fat tissues work poorly in obesity
Mitochondrial genes in fat tissues work poorly in obesity 19 April 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1091 A twin study has revealed that obesity causes the dysfunction of mitochondria which triggers inflammation, particularly in fat tissue. Obesity is associated with numerous health complications, including diabetes and heart conditions. However, tissue-specific mechanisms that drive these conditions are not well understood.
New Frontiers: Futureproofing Fertility and Embryo Law
New Frontiers: Futureproofing Fertility and Embryo Law 20 December 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1126 The fourth session of the Progress Educational Trust (PET)'s 2021 annual conference – 'New Frontiers: Futureproofing Fertility and Embryo Law' – explored the dilemmas that regulators face when trying to create legislation to safeguard fertility treatment and embryo research.
Ethnic minority women are less likely to have successful fertility treatment
Ethnic minority women are less likely to have successful fertility treatment 29 March 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1089 A report published by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has indicated that ethnic minority women have lower chances of a successful pregnancy through fertility treatment, and particularly so for black women.
Concerns over 'no baby, no fee' programmes
Concerns over 'no baby, no fee' programmes 15 February 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1083 Campaigners have requested increased oversight over 'no baby, no fee' funding programmes offered by IVF clinics.
Lawmaker indicted for stem cell fraud
Lawmaker indicted for stem cell fraud 8 February 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1082 A Missouri state representative has been indicted by a federal grand jury for her part in a fraudulent scheme where patients were allegedly administered with COVID-19 treatments that were falsely claimed as containing stem cells.
Actor's ex-fiancé has frozen embryos case thrown out
Actor's ex-fiancé has frozen embryos case thrown out 8 February 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1082 A Louisiana federal judge has dismissed a custody claim by Sofia Vergara's former fiancé over their frozen embryos. Vergara and Nick Loeb had IVF treatment together and froze two embryos before ending their engagement in 2014. After their separation Loeb expressed wishes to bring them to term using a surrogate, publicly stating his belief that life begins at conception.
Celebrity scandal exposes surrogacy discontent in China
Celebrity scandal exposes surrogacy discontent in China 25 January 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1080 Chinese actor Zheng Shuang has been dropped from her professional partnerships, including her role as brand ambassador for fashion house Prada, after being embroiled in a surrogacy scandal.
Australian sperm donor investigated after fathering 23 children
Australian sperm donor investigated after fathering 23 children 7 December 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1075 A Brisbane sperm donor is currently under investigation by the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Authority (VARTA) for fathering 23 children in one year. The Victorian law permits sperm donors to help up to ten women, including their partner, to conceive. Alan Phan, who already had two children of his own, had been donating sperm privately as well as through clinics, surpassing the legal limit.
Patient data stolen from a fertility clinic network in the USA
Patient data stolen from a fertility clinic network in the USA 30 November 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1074 One of the largest networks of fertility clinics in the United States has confirmed that it was targeted by a ransomware attack, resulting in a security breach of patient information.
Canadian court denies woman's appeal to use dead husband's sperm
Canadian court denies woman's appeal to use dead husband's sperm 30 November 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1074 A woman in Canada has been denied her appeal to use her dead husband's sperm, on the grounds that he did not provide formal written consent. The couple, referred to as Mr and Ms T by the court, had been married for three years and had one child before the husband's sudden death in October 2018. The widow was hoping to preserve her husband's sperm from the dead body and have another child.
Gene discovered that controls food cravings and motivation to exercise
Gene discovered that controls food cravings and motivation to exercise 16 November 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1072 US researchers have discovered a gene that may play an influential role in food cravings and motivation to exercise. Mice who lack the PrKar2a gene were shown to consume less high-fat or high-sugar food – even after fasting – and would run on a treadmill for two to three times longer than mice with the gene.
Fertility takes up to eight months to return after stopping contraception
Fertility takes up to eight months to return after stopping contraception 16 November 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1072 Women may have to wait up for up to eight months for their fertility to return to normal after stopping some forms of contraceptives, new research suggests. Oral contraceptives were, and still are, the most used method of contraception, but long-lasting reversible contraceptives, such as intrauterine devices (IUD) or injectable contraceptives are becoming more popular.
Draft guidance from watchdog cracks down on IVF clinics
Draft guidance from watchdog cracks down on IVF clinics 9 November 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1071 The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has released draft guidance for the UK fertility sector, to ensure IVF clinics understand and comply with consumer law. The CMA announced in February that it was looking into the fertility industry due to a lack of price transparency and misleading claims about success rates (see BioNews 1035).
A pathway to nowhere? A critique of the National Academy of Sciences report on genome editing
A pathway to nowhere? A critique of the National Academy of Sciences report on genome editing 12 October 2020 By Dr Christopher Gyngell Research Fellow in Biomedical Ethics, University of Melbourne/Murdoch Children's Research Institute Appeared in BioNews 1067 The transformative impact of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing was recognised last week, with the Nobel Prize being awarded to its founders Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier.
Podcast Review: Donor 9623
Podcast Review: Donor 9623 12 October 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1067 Xytex is a major sperm bank based in Atlanta, Georgia. Donor 9623 was one of their star offerings, a sperm donor with an irresistible description. Genius-level IQ, a movie star lookalike, outgoing, college degrees, ridiculously accomplished in sciences, languages and music. He was so in demand, Xytex repeatedly called him back to provide more paid donations.
Transgender girl's sperm to be stored until court date
Transgender girl's sperm to be stored until court date 14 September 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1063 The NHS has agreed to continue storing a dead teen's frozen sperm until her mother can bring the case to court. As reported in BioNews last week Louise Anderson is launching a legal bid to stop the destruction of her late daughter's sperm, which the fertility clinic are obliged to destroy according to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.
Mother of dead transgender girl makes case to save her sperm
Mother of dead transgender girl makes case to save her sperm 7 September 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1062 A Scottish mother is taking legal action to prevent her deceased child's sperm from being destroyed by a fertility clinic. Ellie Anderson died in July aged 16 after an unexpected illness. She was transgender and had chosen to freeze her sperm when she was 14 so she could have genetically-related children in the future.
BRCA-associated breast cancer risk may be influenced by the woman's genome
BRCA-associated breast cancer risk may be influenced by the woman's genome 7 September 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1062 Women with high risk single-gene variants in the BRCA gene may have a lower risk of developing breast cancer than previously reported. Defects in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes are linked to an increased risk of breast and other cancers.
New report gives guidance on genome editing for heritable diseases
New report gives guidance on genome editing for heritable diseases 7 September 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1062 Genome editing is not yet safe for creating germline changes in humans, an international commission has concluded. The International Commission on the Clinical Use of Human Germline Genome Editing was formed to review applications of heritable human genome editing (HHGE) in humans, and to arrive at a consensus on translation from laboratory research to the clinical uses.
Fertility app Premom accused of sharing customer data without consent
Fertility app Premom accused of sharing customer data without consent 24 August 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1061 The fertility app Premom has shared data with third-party Chinese companies without user permission, according to the International Digital Accountability Council (IDAC). The Android app collects health data of its users to provide advice to women trying to conceive. However, according to IDAC, its data-sharing with three companies is deceptive and may have breached data security laws.
Mother's partner not legal parent of donor-conceived child
Mother's partner not legal parent of donor-conceived child 17 August 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1060 'Appalling' planning between a lesbian couple and the man who acted as the sperm donor has resulted in a missed opportunity for the mother's partner to become a legal parent. High Court Judge, Mr Justice O'Hara, declined to grant a parental order after criticising the lack of any agreements in regard to the role of the biological father in the child's life.
Privacy questions after Blackstone acquires Ancestry
Privacy questions after Blackstone acquires Ancestry 10 August 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1059 What will happen to users' health data? Privacy advocates are concerned after Ancestry is bought by private equity group Blackstone. Ancestry, the genealogy website known for tracing family history and DNA testing, reached a deal valued at $4.7 billion with Blackstone. The American firm will receive a 75 percent stake in the company, sources told Bloomberg.
More Trouble in Store?
More Trouble in Store? 20 July 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1056 On 9 July 2020, the Progress Educational Trust (PET) – the charity that publishes BioNews – held its first ever online event, 'More Trouble in Store? The Two-Year Extension to Embryo and Gamete Storage Limits'. The event explained and discussed the recent change to UK law in regard to the storage of embryos and gametes.
Fertility preservation is effective in female cancer patients
Fertility preservation is effective in female cancer patients 6 July 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1054 The largest study looking at long-term outcomes of fertility preservation in female cancer patients has demonstrated how successful it can be, in particular for breast cancer patients.
How to safely deliver fertility treatments in the COVID-19 era: the controversy of guidelines
How to safely deliver fertility treatments in the COVID-19 era: the controversy of guidelines 29 June 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1053 The Health Secretary's announcement on 1 May 2020 that fertility services in the UK could apply to reopen (see BioNews 1045) was a message of hope for all those who depend on fertility treatment for having a baby.
China collects DNA from millions of men and boys
China collects DNA from millions of men and boys 22 June 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1052 Chinese authorities are collecting blood samples from across the country to build a genetic map of its roughly 700 million males. A new Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) report describes how Chinese law enforcement has been collecting samples to build a DNA database to track a man's male relatives using only his blood, saliva or other genetic material.
Human eggs use chemical attraction to 'choose' sperm
Human eggs use chemical attraction to 'choose' sperm 15 June 2020 Appeared in BioNews 1051 The fluid that surrounds an egg when it is released acts as a chemical attractant to sperm, but may also select sperm from certain males over others.
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