Recent developments in genetics and medically assisted reproduction : from research to clinical applications

Two leading European professional societies, the European Society of Human Genetics and the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology, have worked together since 2004 to evaluate the impact of fast research advances at the interface of assisted reproduction and genetics, including their application into clinical practice. In September 2016, the expert panel met for the third time. The topics discussed highlighted important issues covering the impacts of expanded carrier screening, direct-to-consumer genetic testing, voiding of the presumed anonymity of gamete donors by advanced genetic testing, advances in the research of genetic causes underlying male and female infertility, utilisation of massively parallel sequencing in preimplantation genetic testing and non-invasive prenatal screening, mitochondrial replacement in human oocytes, and additionally, issues related to cross-generational epigenetic inheritance following IVF and germline genome editing. The resulting paper represents a consensus of both professional societies involved.Peer reviewe

An unusual Cu(II) complex of a Schiff-base ligand of 3-aminoquinoline with a hydronated pyridine unit: Synthesis, characterizations, and computational studies

A very unusual Cu(II) compound of formula [Cu(mqmp)(2)(ClO4)(2)] was synthesized in situ from a one-pot reaction between copper(II) perchlorate and a Schiff base ligand, 2-methoxy-6-((quinolin-3-ylimino) methyl)phenol, abbreviated mqmp. The resulting compound, bearing positively charged side groups was characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), infrared spectroscopy (IR), ligand-field (LF) spectroscopy, and powder electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The coordination chromophore consists of tetragonal [CuN2O2O2'] units. The compound shows a step-like molecular assembly assisted by hydrogen-bond interactions from -NH+ to ClO4- between the neighbouring molecules. The presence of pyridinic nitrogens bearing a H+ ("hydron") on the quinoline unit is quite unusual, and was validated with computational studies which clearly suggested that this hydronated nitrogen stabilizes the structure by 164 kJ mol(-1) compared to the hydronated phenolic version of the structure. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Metals in Catalysis, Biomimetics & Inorganic Material