NOTES - In Vitro Fertilization & Genetic Screening

What is in vitro fertilization? In vitro fertilization – a process by which egg cells are fertilized by sperm cells outside of the body In vitro fertilization – a process by which egg cells are fertilized by sperm cells outside of the body

What is in vitro fertilization? 1. Egg cells are removed from the woman’s ovaries 2. The egg cells are placed in a fluid within a Petri dish 3. Sperm cells from the male are placed in the dish to fertilize the eggs 4. A fertilized egg (embryo) is then transferred to the woman’s uterus - usually more than one embryo is transferred at a time to increase the chances of success

In Vitro Fertilization

In Vitro Timeline

Embryos (Blastocyst Stage)

What is in vitro fertilization? The first IVF baby, Louise Brown, was born in currently about 1% of US births are IVF The first IVF baby, Louise Brown, was born in currently about 1% of US births are IVF IVF leads to pregnancy about 35% of the time and live births about 27% of the time IVF leads to pregnancy about 35% of the time and live births about 27% of the time One in vitro cycle costs anywhere between $10,000 and $20,000 One in vitro cycle costs anywhere between $10,000 and $20,000

What is genetic screening? Genetic screening – looking at the DNA of an organism in order to identify genes that cause particular traits Genetic screening – looking at the DNA of an organism in order to identify genes that cause particular traits Genetic screening is currently used to look for genes that cause hereditary diseases or for genes that increase the likelihood of developing a certain disease Genetic screening is currently used to look for genes that cause hereditary diseases or for genes that increase the likelihood of developing a certain disease

What is genetic screening? Currently, scientists are trying to figure out exactly what it is that each of the approximately 35,000 genes contained in human DNA actually does. Currently, scientists are trying to figure out exactly what it is that each of the approximately 35,000 genes contained in human DNA actually does. Once scientists know what traits all human genes are responsible for, they will be able to look at anybody’s DNA and predict likely physical and behavioral traits. Once scientists know what traits all human genes are responsible for, they will be able to look at anybody’s DNA and predict likely physical and behavioral traits. What are the consequences of being able to predict all this information about a person? What are the consequences of being able to predict all this information about a person?

How can genetic screening be combined with in vitro fertilization? Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) – Embryos created through in vitro fertilization are genetically screened before they are implanted back into the mother Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) – Embryos created through in vitro fertilization are genetically screened before they are implanted back into the mother What does this mean? A few possibilities: What does this mean? A few possibilities: Carriers of genes for hereditary diseases would be able to have children without passing on their defective genes Carriers of genes for hereditary diseases would be able to have children without passing on their defective genes People are able to choose the sex of their baby People are able to choose the sex of their baby People may be able to select other traits for their unborn children that they find to be desirable People may be able to select other traits for their unborn children that they find to be desirable

Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis

The Fertility Institutes

Which kind of baby would you like?

Questions Who pays for PGD? Who pays for PGD? How much will people be allowed to choose? How much will people be allowed to choose? How much should people be allowed to choose? How much should people be allowed to choose? Who will have access to your genetic information? Who will have access to your genetic information? How should a person’s genetic information be used? How should a person’s genetic information be used?