What is Life? A Guide to Biology with Physiology
What is Life? A Guide to Biology with Physiology
3rd Edition
ISBN: 9781464157745
Author: Jay Phelan
Publisher: W. H. Freeman
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Chapter 25, Problem 1SA
Summary Introduction

To review:

The unintended consequence of technology that makes pregnancy possible where it once was not.

Introduction:

Technology that enables in-vitro fertilization, has been developed today to allow enable babies to be conceived artificially.

Such technologies may include donation of eggs and sperm from third persons. However, the outcome of pregnancies resulting from use of such technologies have unintended negative consequences.

Expert Solution & Answer
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Explanation of Solution

Fertilization is the process by which the male and female gametes (sperm and egg) come together to form an embryo. The embryo develops into a baby. This is a process that occurs within the female body.

However, for various reasons such as the inability of the male or female partner to produce sperms or eggs and the inability of the mother to carry the baby for a full pregnancy, many artificial methods for a successful pregnancy have been developed.

Technology has been developed to take the eggs and sperm cells of the couple and artificially inseminate the egg in the laboratory. If this is not successful, the eggs or sperm cells of a third party donor is used to create a viable embryo, which is then placed into the uterus of the aspiring mother. Other procedures are used to ensure that the embryo develops to term.

The consequence of these methods is the ethical and legal complexity surrounding them. Some of these issues include the ownership of donated sperm or eggs, ownership of embryos, relationship between children born from an artificial reproductive technology with the donor of the sperm or egg that was used.

Conclusion

While the technology to enable successful pregnancies and child birth provides a solution for infertile couples, there are unintended consequences that raise ethical questions and legal problems. These consequences include the legal rights, relationships and responsibilities of the donor, the recipient, and the child that is born using the technology.

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