Researchers at the National Cancer Centre Research Institute, Tokyo, and the Chiba University School of Medicine in Japan, have made a significant discovery which may help correct genetic disorders in the womb.

Scientists implanted an easily detectable gene into mouse embryos by injecting it into the tail veins of pregnant female mice. Although the implanted gene is not detectable till 14 months after birth, they remain active without posing any threat to the genetic inheritance of the future generations.

The technique would now be tried out on animals and later it could be used for correcting birth disorders in humans. However, prospects for treating congenital diseases is a long way off, warns Masaaki Terada, of the research team.