Imaging and evaluating embryos, oocytes, and stem cells

Abstract

Methods, compositions and kits for determining the developmental potential of one or more embryos or pluripotent cells and/or the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in one or more embryos or pluripotent cells are provided. These methods, compositions and kits find use in identifying embryos and oocytes in vitro that are most useful in treating infertility in humans.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method for ranking human embryos or pluripotent cells relative to one another, comprising the steps of:
 (a) measuring at least one cell parameter for each human embryo or pluripotent cell to arrive at a cell parameter measurement for each embryo or pluripotent cell; and   (b) employing said at least one cell parameter measurement from each of said embryos or pluripotent cells to rank said human embryos or pluripotent cells relative to one another.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one cell parameter is measurable by time-lapse microscopy. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein embryos are ranked and said at least one cell parameter is selected from the group consisting of:
 (i) the duration of a cytokinesis event;   (ii) the time interval between cytokinesis 1 and cytokinesis 2; and   (iii) the time interval between cytokinesis 2 and cytokinesis 3.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said measuring step further comprises measuring the duration of cell cycle 1. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said one or more cell parameters are the expression levels of one or more genes. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said one or more genes is selected from the group consisting of Cofillin, DIAPH1, ECT2, MYLC2/MYL5, DGCR8, Dicer/DICER1, TARBP2, CPEB1, Symplekin/SYMPK, YBX2, ZAR1, CTNNB1, DNMT3B, TERT, YY1, IFGR2/IFNGR2, BTF3, and NELF. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said employing step is effected by comparing said cell parameter measurements from each of said embryos or pluripotent cells to one another to determine the developmental potential of the embryos or pluripotent cells relative to one another. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said employing step is effected by:
 comparing said cell parameter measurements from each of said embryos or pluripotent cells to a cell parameter measurement from a reference embryo or pluripotent cell to determine the developmental potentials for each embryo or pluripotent cell; and comparing the developmental potentials for each embryo or pluripotent cell to determine the developmental potential of the embryos or pluripotent cells relative to one another.   
     
     
         23 . A method of providing a human embryo with good developmental potential to a female, comprising the steps of:
 (a) culturing one or more embryos under conditions sufficient for embryo development;   (b) measuring one or more cellular parameters in said one or more embryos to arrive at a cell parameter measurement;   (c) employing said cell parameter measurement to provide a determination of the developmental potential of said one or more embryos;   (d) transferring said one or more embryos that demonstrate good developmental potential into a female in need thereof.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said embryos are produced by the fertilization of oocytes in vitro. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said oocytes were matured in vitro. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said oocytes were matured in vivo. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , where oocytes matured in vitro are supplemented with growth factors. 
     
     
         28 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . An automated method for microscopically imaging a movable, dividing cell in culture in which the dividing cell is sampled as a series of digital images having pixels, comprising the steps of:
 (a) representing the set of pixels as a calculated shape;   (b) predicting changes in the set of pixels due to cell motion and division by perturbing values of the calculated shape;   (c) generating a set of simulated image from the predicted shape;   (d) comparing the simulated images to the real image;   (e) using the comparison to determine the accuracy of the predicted shape.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  where the image simulation comprises simulating an outline of one or more cell membranes. 
     
     
         37 . (canceled)