Aneuploidy

Aneuploidy is the most commonly occurring type of chromosome abnormality. It occurs usually because of segregation errors that take place during female meiosis. Most aneuploid pregnancies do not survive in utero and in the great majority of cases demise happens during the first few weeks of uterine life. This publication investigates the causes of aneuploidy in humans and its effects at different life stages. This issue is accordingly divided into three main sections: the first, 'Aneuploidy at Different Life Stages', provides an overview of abnormalities in sperm and oocytes. In addition, current literature dealing with inherited aneuploidy arising from germinal mosaicism is reviewed. The second section provides in-depth coverage of aneuploidy during embryogenesis together with articles about somatic changes. Furthermore, an exciting collection of up-to-date articles by highly regarded experts in the field explore the topic of genetic regulation of chromosome segregation. The final section is devoted to 'Environment and Epigenetics', two critical factors in the genesis of aneuploidy. Providing a valuable overview this issue will be of interest not only to those engaged in genetic research but also to clinicians concerned with fetal medicine and with infertility. Furthermore, embryologists who need to be familiar with the latest findings relating to embryonic aneuploidy will doubtless appreciate these reviews.