Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Kidney Disease-Related Genes: A Laboratory's Experience.

Introduction: Recent literature highlights the clinical utility of genetic testing for patients with kidney disease. Genetic testing provides significant benefits for reproductive risk counseling, including the option of in vitro fertilization with preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disease (PGT-M). PGT-M allows for a significant reduction in risk for a pregnancy affected with the familial disease.

Gene doping: the hype and the harm.

"Gene doping" is the term used to describe the potential abuse of gene therapy as a performance-enhancing agent. Gene doping would apply the techniques used in gene therapy to provide altered expression of genes that would promote physical superiority. For example, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a primary target for growth hormone; overexpression of IGF-1 can lead to increased muscle mass and power.