But Dr Laufer said if this applied to the Ashkenazi Jews it should be accompanied by a higher than usual miscarriage rate.

BBC: NEWS | Health | Genes help women over 45 conceive

Dr Laufer believes that identifying women with the genetic fingerprints that they have found would enable doctors to know which women are still fertile in advanced age and may determine the counseling they need.

BBC: NEWS | Health | Genes help women over 45 conceive

Meir Laufer, Plaza's chief executive, declined to comment.

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