Aim: How have organisms benefited from reproductive technology?

What is Reproductive Technology? 1) Methods that assist organisms to produce offspring. 2)Methods that aid in the examination of developing offspring.

Why might some people need reproductive technologies? Some people cannot become pregnant because of problems with their hormones, ovaries, testes, or other parts of their reproductive systems. Infertility – cannot produce offspring.

Applications of Reproductive Technology: Medical Applications: 1)In-Vitro Fertilization 2)Artificial Insemination 3)Amniocentesis & Karyotyping

In-Vitro Fertilization Egg is fertilized in a petri dish

The embryo is then…. Implanted into a mother’s uterus.

Invitro fertilization often leads to multiple births! Due to the extra hormones given to the mother to help her create an egg. More than one egg is implanted to help ensure at least one implants! Identical Twins: –one egg and one sperm –Zygote splits to form two genetically identical offspring! Fraternal Twins: two different eggs are fertilized by two different sperm.

Artificial Insemination Inserting sperm inside females uterus

How do we store sperm, eggs & embryos for in-vitro fertilization? Frozen in a bank

Amniocentesis & Karyotpying Amniotic fluid is withdrawn from a woman's uterus to test for certain problems in the fetus, such as genetic defects.

Sonograms - Ultrasound Use of sound and echo to create an image of the developing embryo

What are some possible causes of Birth Defects? Smoking Drinking (fetal alcohol syndrome) Exposure to environmental toxins(x- rays) Bacteria or virus Age of the mother (down’s syndrome)

Thalidomide (1950)- used to treat morning sickness

How Can We Prevent these birth defects? Proper diet and nutrition Don’t Drink or smoke Don’t take drugs Avoid X-rays Don’t consume undercooked meat or cheese Take prenatal vitamins

Applications of Reproductive Technology: Agriculture: 1)Scientists have genetically modified plants using DNA Recombinant Technology to be resistant to disease. These modified plants can then be cloned to produce thousands of genetically identical offspring. 2)Using artificial insemination, scientists can generate hundreds of offspring from one farm animal. 3) Selective Breeding

Selective Breeding Meaty cow Milk producing cow To obtain organisms with desired traits

Applications of Reproductive Technology: Ecology: 1)Embryos from endangered species have been transplanted into related species, who later give birth to offspring that are no different than they would be if they developed in the bodies of the endangered species themselves.