Introduction
IVF is one of these important innovations that will assure the trade of genetics of various species across the globe. Figure 1 illustrates the evolution of both in vivo and in vitro bovine embryo production between 1997 and 2015 based on data recovered by IETS’ Data Retrieval Committee (Perry, 2016). In this figure, it is apparent that in vivo embryo production was an important technology used by many producers until this production leveled off in 2006 and seemed to decrease slightly with the following years up to 2015. On the other hand, although hardly used in the late 1990s, IVF embryo production has increased significantly year after year with an all-time high of over 600,000 IVF embryos produced in 2015, which represents
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Furthermore, other studies reported higher incidences of calves resulting from these IVF embryos that exhibited abnormal offspring syndrome (AOS; Farin et al., 2006). As research progressed in this field, laboratories introduced sequential defined or semi-defined media that were based on studies that characterized the oviduct and uterine environments during the first 7 days of life of an in vivo embryo. With these new media, IVF embryos were of higher quality, survived significantly more slow-freezing protocols and reduced significantly the incidences of AOS. This increase in cryotolerance made it possible to apply Direct Transfer (DT) techniques just like in vivo produced embryos. Considering this advantage, this opens up opportunities to export IVF embryos as easily as in vivo embryos. Although the import/export of frozen IVF embryos is still limited, different players, whether from the private sector, the universities, or the government, are working with appropriate regulatory agencies to open these markets to meet the global demand for bovine genetics. However, the one caveat of IVF is that there are still different IVF systems (media suite and techniques) used by commercial businesses worldwide. This will result in variations in embryo quality from one IVF unit to another and therefore impact number of high quality IVF embryos produced, the cryosensitivty of these embryos as well as resulting gestation rates.
Another reason why IVF is being used more in the ET
Only twenty years ago, embryo freezing (cryopreservation) was considered a technique that raised “disturbing,” “extremely difficult,” “incredibly complex,” and even “nightmarish” ethical issues. Currently, however, at least 41 of the 169 infertility clinics in the United States have begun to implement in vitro fertilization protocols (IVF) (Freemann et al., 1986). The number of frozen embryos in this country nearly tripled, from 289 to 824, between 1985 and 1986 (Van Steirteghem and Van Den Abbel, 1988). An estimated ten infants in the U.S. and sixty in the world were born as of 1988 after having been frozen as embryos. The government and professional advisory groups have endorsed embryo
embryos that are destined to be discarded in the course of IVF procedures and making them
While in-vitro fertilization has helped many couples have a child they couldn’t have any other way, it has also created the problem of unwanted embryos. Since there are almost a million unwanted embryos that need to be kept frozen, and the government is spending almost a million dollars to make people aware of the situation (Mayes). They’re trying to invent the new Technologies in a successful way so that we can solve any obstacles comes in our way.
If a cow, displaying the ‘double muscled’ characteristic was produced, this enables the breeder to inbreed this cow, with the original homozygous recessive bull to create a purely ‘Belgian Blue’ breed. Other technology has increased the concentration of these desirable traits. To ensure farmers are not jeopardising their stock population, artificial insemination is a new form of genetic engineering technology. Artificial insemination/embryo breeding is a process that involves inserting the semen sample of a bull and inserting it into the heifers uterus. Or taking eggs from a heifer and semen from a bull and inserting into the uterus of another heifer. This process can increase the concentration of selective breeding as the cows with less desirable traits are enable to breed as farmers insert reproductive cells of the biggest and best cattle into to the average cows and therefore increase production of offspring. Embryo breeding has become reasonably affordable and therefore farmers can increase productivity to meet increased meat
In this age with rampant population growth and an agricultural industry unprepared to meet future demand, many in the industry and scientists in the field have discussed cloning cattle to meet these food demands. Concerns include whether cloned offspring and in turn their produce are safe and meet industry standards, whether the process treats animals inhumanely, the demands of the agricultural industry, the price of cloned produce and the long-term viability of such a method.
Many women are eager to become a mother, but infertility prevents some women from satisfying this need. To counter this widespread problem, we develop reproductive choices. One of the most important choices is in vitro fertilization. Even though this method significantly increases pregnancy rate in infertile women, it comes with the problem. Underlying in vitro fertilization is research on living human embryos. We need to research on countless living embryos in order to develop clinical in vitro fertilization. This stirs public attention on its morality. Society asks: Are we killing thousands of human life while we are developing method to give birth to other ones? This question is crucial because it is asking very foundation of our
In “DON’T TRY TO ENGINEER HUMAN EMBRYOS,” Stuart A. Newman proposes a number of negative outcomes that could become very real should mankind choose to pursue genetic engineering on a mass scale. He explains that this technology, should it become available to the public, has the potential to cause the creation of a genetic caste system, the over manipulation of human genes to create non-human creations, and the high probability of birth defects or cancer among genetically altered creatures. There is a high level of bias within this article that raises questions about its reliability. He fails to use any real statistics to back up his argument, makes outrageous claims without backing them up, and stoops so low as to simply attempt to make a
Over the years many laws have been developed either in response to certain issues or to protect patients and their unborn fetus. One of the major ethical concerns is multiple births. Since this issue became noticed in the 1980’s many countries issued laws that require facilities to report the number of embryos transferred in an IVF cycle. However, there was no law limiting the amount of embryos transferred. Currently, there are many countries that do have laws restricting the amount of embryos to be transferred, in an effort to reduce the amount of multiple gestations (Brezina & Zhao, 2012). Multiple gestations, even in spontaneous pregnancies result in an increased in birth defects and other health related issues including pre-term babies and miscarriages. However, IVF has a higher chance of causing multiple pregnancies with as many as 8 embryos. Davies et al., (2012) found that “treatment with reproductive technology was associated with increased risks of cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, urogenital, and gastrointestinal defects and cerebral palsy” (p.1812).These risks must be considered and explained to the patient before procedures to follow the principle of autonomy. Another major concern with ART therapy is financing. For those individuals who are in high standing money is not an issue. However, others may have a difficult time scraping up the money needed for such procedures. Hagel
Many women are eager to become a mother, but infertility prevents some women from satisfying this need. However, modern biotechnologies combined with changed norms of culture now provide them reproductive choices such as in vitro fertilization. In order to develop these reproductive choices, we need to research on living human embryo. Because its procedures terminate the life of embryo, embryonic research stirs up public attention on its morality. Society questions if these methods are morally right. Do they violate the meaning of personhood and life? Do we kill a human when we research the embryos? These questions are asking our foundation of morality. We must be cautious and avoid any logical fallacies when we answer them. Using
Striving to find that common ground must incorporate patient’s rights and that the pursuit of future technologies in the reproduction area, as with all areas of medicine must calculate patient safety above all else; especially before profitability. For years, procedures such as In Vitro Fertilization has been marketed as a safe viable alternative method for reproduction, but at what cost ethically? According to the article In Vitro Fertilization: The Human
The UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has recently made a decision to give scientists in London permission to genetically edit ‘spare’ human embryos from women who have undergone IVF. The scientists want to make some genes in leftover
Good embryos were determined by those who had developed to the early morula stage or beyond, and they were considered bad embryo’s if they had not reached that stage. 70% of the ewes had between 5 to 9 follicles per day. The ewes in the lower performing group had fewer oocytes, good quality embryos, and corpora lutea when comparing them to the higher performing group. It was concluded that ewes in more than 8 follicles at the start of the estrous cycle had a better superovulatory response (higher quality embryo and more corpora lutea) than the ewes with fewer follicles. Although, the number of follicles had no influence on the ratio of good quality embryos per ewe. This finding seems to show the opposite of what has been found in cattle (Ward et al.,
Another issue that I have is when there is numerous embryos that are produced. Having over 400,000 embryos in storage is just ridiculous and unethical. Embryos is not merchandise, they are
The procedure followed in the embryological laboratory is the same procedure as IVF until the day of embryo biopsy. Recent studies show that the ideal day to perform embryo biopsy is the 5th day after oocyte retrieval, when the embryos are at the blastocyst stage. The cells retrieved from each embryo are submitted to the genetics laboratory for analysis. If the results can be analysed within 24 hours, embryo transfer can take place the following day (on the 6th day after oocyte retrieval). If more time is needed, the embryos can be frozen after the biopsy until their screening is completed and the healthy embryos are
Inseminate livestock increase productivity and profit. Global Genetic Resources strive to help breeders who use their common sense. We supply all types of bovine semen and provide leading cattle artificial