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Sex Preselection Essay

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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 …show more content…

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

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