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Baby born from 24-year-old frozen embryo

A 26-year-old woman has given birth to a healthy baby girl from an embryo that was was frozen 24 years ago.

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Source: AAP


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A Tennessee couple has welcomed a healthy baby girl born from an embryo that had been frozen for 24 years, US media reports.

Emma Wren was born last month to parents Tina and Benjamin Gibson, the WND website reported on Wednesday, and, according to researchers at the University of Tennessee, holds the record for the longest frozen embryo to be birthed.

The embryo had been frozen in 1992 - just a year and a half after Tina's own birth - and was implanted into Tina in March at the National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC) in Knoxville.

"This embryo and I could have been best friends," Tina, now 26, told CNN.

The NEDC takes donated embryos from couples who no longer want or need them and pairs them with people who wish to have children.

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The Gibsons had previously fostered children and considered adoption before settling on the "embryo adoption" because Benjamin, 33, has cystic fibrosis, which can make men infertile.

"Emma is such a sweet miracle," Benjamin said. "I think she looks pretty perfect to have been frozen all those years ago."


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