Abstract: A method is described for determining carrier status of an embryo for a balanced chromosomal rearrangement (BCR) prior to implantation of the embryo. The method involves obtaining cells from the embryo from at least day 4 post in vitro fertilization; conducting long-read nanopore sequencing of the DNA of the cells and the BCR carrier parent to detect at least one breakpoint; preparing primers specific to the breakpoint; employing the primers in a polymerase chain reaction customized to the breakpoint (cBP-PCR) to determine whether the breakpoint is indicative of BCR; and determining on the basis of cBP-PCR whether the embryo status is BCR carrier or BCR noncarrier; and conducting Sanger sequencing to determine balance in the embryo. The method can assist BCR carrier parents to pursue reproductive technologies while preventing vertical transmission of a BCR to offspring.

Abstract: A method of isolating a pluripotent cell from human umbilical cord is described herein. The method involves collecting a sample of umbilical cord from fetal tissue obtained at less than 13 weeks of gestation, for example a first trimester umbilical cord. The sample is treated to obtain isolated umbilical cord cells, after which the isolated umbilical cord cells are incubated. Cells obtained in this way can be differentiated for use in treating conditions of cell damage, by supplanting the function of a damaged cell in a condition such as spinal cord injury, cardiovascular injury or heart disease.