Use of Embryos : Reproductive LI: I can describe how embryos can be used to help develop reproduction. Success: I have completed notes on IVF, PGD/PGS, designer babies and saviour siblings.

In-vitro Fertilisation is a process by which an egg can e fertilised outside of the human body. Sperm and egg are fused in culture (glass dish – vitro means glass) The embryo develops a short while and is then implanted into the mother’s womb. Louise Brown was the first ‘test tube baby’ created in this way in Around 2 million children have been born by IVF. About 25% of IVF treatments are funded by the NHS; the rest are paid for privately, costing up to £8000 a cycle. IN VITRO FERTILISATION (I.V.F)

Uses of IVF Prevention of inherited disease being passed on – such illnesses as Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neuron Disease and Alzheimer’s Infertility - to help couples have children Impotence - to help couples have children Gender selection - to select a particular gender for medical or other reasons of choice (PGD) Experimentation - to use embryos for scientific research – Where embryos are created usually for IVF and selected for experiment and then discarded afterwards – Used from ‘surplus or unwanted’ embryos. Financial Reward

Drawbacks of IVF Variable success rate High wastage of embryos Cost effectiveness – very expensive Open to abuse – could lead to creation of ‘designer babies’ Problems related to definitions of the beginning of life Considered to be un-natural by some No age barrier – could be used by women beyond their natural child bearing age.

 Can detect with high degree of accuracy possible problems before implantation  Errors in chromosomes that would lead to pregnancy failure, possibly failure to implant, or to Down or Turner syndrome  The presence or absence of a Y chromosome, indicating gender  Some single-gene disorders, such as Tay-Sachs disease, muscular dystrophy, and cystic fibrosis, and others for which genetic tests exist  To some extent, whether a particular embryo is likely to become an appropriately matched tissue donor (saviour sibling) Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis

Pre-implantation Genetic Selection (PGS) – Does not change any genes, but PGD allows ability to select according to diagnostics PGD is an invaluable tool for identifying – a specific genetic combination – specific problems – Creating saviour siblings ADVANTAGES: PGD

DANGERS Leads to destruction of embryos, therefore considered abortion. Playing God over life and death Questions the value of children born with inherited conditions. Lead to ‘designer babies’ as it is already used unlicensed in other countries to select gender. Complicated, costly and risky Question value of saviour sibling- only purpose for being born?

Designer Babies Developments in pre-natal screening and IVF mean it is now hypothetically possible for parents to choose characteristics they would wish their child to have. While this may be used for medical reasons- for example, an embryo may be screened to find out if it will develop a life-limiting genetic disease – there are fears that some parents might try to use scientific advances to choose characteristics which they feel are cosmetically or socially desirable for their child.

Technical term: Inheritable Genetic Modification Using genetic selection to alter characteristics or remove unwanted features of a child so that it is more socially acceptable. – Height – Hair or eye colour – IQ – Skills Designer Babies

Dangers Could lead to breeding a race of super humans who look down on those humans without genetic enhancements. Assuming genetic enhancement becomes readily available will it be incredibly expensive? Only the wealthy would then be protected from inherited diseases and disabilities. Discrimination against those with disabilities would greatly rise. Humans have never experienced the effects of genetic structure alteration.

Dangers Altering embryos is fairly recent technology and as it develops is a very costly procedure. With only the wealthy being able to pay for the modification that will eliminate disease for their children and eventually choose traits such as personality and appearance will lead to an elite race. They would be far more advanced than the poor who cannot afford such technologies.

Saviour Siblings A child that has gone through pre implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in order to match as a donor to a previously born sibling with a disease that requires stem cell transplantation. It is effective against genetically detectable diseases and other diseases such as leukaemia. Often referred to as ‘saviour siblings’ because they may be able to save the life of their sick brother or sister.

Issues Possible exploitation of the child – e.g. potential adverse psychological effects on a child born not for itself but to save another. – What are the saviour sibling’s rights to use their body parts as a donor? (My Sisiter’s Keeper) On the other hand the future donor child will not only be a donor but also a loved individual within the family. A survey of 4,000 Americans showed that most of them approved of PGD use for saviour siblings.

Exam Questions 1.Describe two uses of embryos. 4KU 2. Explain two drawbacks of IVF? 4AE 3. What are the main issues od debate using human embryos? 5KU 4. Why is the use of embryos sometimes considered highly controversial? 6AE