Sex Preselection
For many years, mankind has wondered how to choose the sex of a child before its birth for which countless myths, folk remedies, and magic potions have been offered as a solution. None of these methods were based on scientific evidence. However, in recent years gender selection has been made possible through advances such as preimplantation genetic diagnosis using biopsy methods combined with in vitro fertilization and sperm separation using flow cytometry techniques (Reubinoff, 1996, p. 344). These methods can increase the likelihood of producing a child of the desired sex, although none can guarantee success. The fact that the procedure can be fairly simple and inexpensive may cause medical practices to notice
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Although it has been argued that the FISH technique is acceptable when the embryo is homogenous, but remains questionable when it is heterogenous (Coonen, 1996, p.134).
Another technique used in sex preselection is called MicroSort. “Utilizing new flow cytometric separation technology, the X or Y chromosome –bearing sperm can be sorted and the enriched fraction of sorted sperm can be used for medical insemination (intrauterine insemination), in vitro fertilization, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection.” (Genetics & IVF Institute, 1998) Normally, semen specimens contain an equal amount of X- and Y-bearing sperm. If either of the two can be increased, so can the chances of conceiving a child of that sex. This method is currently somewhat more successful for parents choosing to have a girl. It is expected to be five to six times more likely to have a female child, while on the other hand, the chances of a boy are only increased to 2: 1. Obviously, this does not result in the complete elimination of either X or Y chromosome –bearing sperm in the final sperm preparation. This sorting technique has resulted in over four hundred offspring of various species as well as the recent births in humans. (Genetics & IVF Institute, 1998). The first people to use this technique were looking to avoid a deadly disease called hydrocephalus, which almost always effects boys. A healthy baby girl was born to the couple in August of
There is no sperm separation method that has produced high success rates of sperm separation to provide gender outcomes greater than 90% and therefore further work is needed to perfect the sex selection.
Gender selection is essentially made possible by the separation of male-producing sperm and female-producing sperm. “Gender Selection,” provided by Infobase Learning and Jackson State Community College, states that Ronald Ericsson discovered that Y-chromosome sperm swim faster than X-chromosome sperm. By separating the sperm based upon how fast they swam within test tubes, Ericsson could inseminate the desired sex-producing sperm (2). However, this method is only 50% effective. Flow cytometry, another technique that uses fluorescent dye to differentiate the sperm, began being used in 1995. “Because of differences in the amount of DNA contained in the two types of sperm, the dye glows more brightly on X sperm than on Y sperm, allowing equipment to separate them based on their level of fluorescence” (“Gender Selection” 3). Though this
Many old wives’ tales circulating pregnancy have to do with gender. To determine whether a woman is carrying a boy or a girl without the use of medical professionals, these stories have been passed down through generations.
In this chapter, Stephen Law starts out with talking about the selection of sex. Selection of sex is already possible through IVF (In vitro fertilization), and it can be very helpful
Note to picture: The process is also cruel to the baby to achieve the “desired” gender, which is totally ethically unacceptable.
The Pre-implantation gender diagnosis method is the most effective and most popular method of IVF as it has almost a 100% success rate.
Technology is advancing all the time, but often we question the necessity of the new inventions. In the 1980s, in vitro fertilisation was still a very new science. The information was limited to the people who actually could and would participate in the studies, as simulating human pregnancy in animals is difficult. The actual procedure, however, includes a donated egg, sperm, and simulating mitosis in a test tube then injecting it into a woman 's womb.
In today’s world we have well developed concepts and ways of proving and analyzing every biological aspect of the human body and mind. It has been known for many years how chromosomes determine which baby will be a boy or a girl and how the chromosomes develop to make different
The two procedures are used mainly for screening of diseases; however, in 1996 a special case evoked attention around the world. The Collins family visited a doctor in Fairvax, Virginia for IVF. The family desired to conceive a female, due to already having two sons (Ly). Considering the fact that PGD and IVF were only used for genetic disease screening, the attempt to select the gender of their baby sparked the interest in the scientific community.
female for each tank. Thus the progeny produced was reared for a period of 35 days and sex of the fish was assessed
the sperm are categorized as masculine and feminine. Finally, it seems that the end goal of
In the end, this can all be avoided by the simple decision to be able to choose the baby’s gender.
In the not so distant past, opportunities to become a parent were restricted by biology and gender. Infertile heterosexual couples, same-sex couples, and single individuals had few choices available to them in creating a family of their own. For most adoption or remaining childless were the only option. Fortunately, since the birth of the first ‘test-tube baby’ in the late 1970’s Assistive Reproductive Technologies (ART) have introduced a number of medically assisted techniques enabling couples and individuals (otherwise unable to conceive biologically), opportunities to become parents and form families of their own. One such technique that will be discussed here within is the use of In Vitro Fertilization, or IVF. Although IVF enables
In a world where technology is in almost every aspect of our lives, the way that people can reproduce is not forgotten. Artificial reproduction technology, also known as ART has had many advances in the past few decades. Sometimes it is a very controversial topic because they don’t think that it is an area that should be messed with. Infertility, or the inability to reproduce can effect both males and females, it can put a lot of stress on a couple who are trying to have a child, and with the help of technology people that weren’t able to have children before are now having the opportunity. This technology isn’t as new as one would think. The first test tube baby was born on July 25, 1978. The baby was named Louise Brown, and has given people a whole new way of how people think on how children can be made. It gives a whole new meaning from the story of the stork our parents told us while we were young. In this paper I will cover different methods or ART and how they work, and the pros and cons to the method. In vitro fertilization, gestational carriers, and designer gametes are the methods I will be addressing.
Even though there are abnormalities often found, there have been fewer. Cases of various solemn diseases due to the process of genetic screening. This process analyzes a group of embryos to determine genetic vulnerability to a specific disease. “Screening embryos is still highly controversial and even not allowed in some countries, but it appears to be a reasonable option for couples,” said the Institute 's director, Yury Verlinsky (Horsey). Couples should acknowledge the diseases that their child could inherit, if there is a history of a serious disease in the family, the couple can consult about going through in-vitro fertilization. Doctor’s will strive, with the couple, to carefully designate a healthy embryo,