Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Essay example -- Fertility Chemistry

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis In the United States, an estimated 2.3 million couples are considered infertile [Wekesser, 1996]. This creates a large need for infertility specialists and clinics specializing in fertility treatments. With the quickly advancing field of rep roductive services and the quest for creating better, healthier babies, a new service called Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is being offered in conjunction with In vitro fertilization. PGD is a procedure that combines In vitro fertilization and genetic screening. In vitro fertilization is a procedure that requires a large time commitment; the entire procedure lasts about four weeks. The woman receives daily injections for seven to twelve days to stimulate the release of her eggs. After she begins to ovulate, the eggs are retrieved by inserting a needle through her vaginal wall. The eggs are then fertilized in a petri dish. After fertilization, the resulting embryos are allowed to mature to the six or eight cell stage. Then with the use of micromanipulation, a technician extracts one cell from each embryo. Polymerase Chain Reaction is then used to produce multiple copies of the cell’s DNA. [Wekesser,1996] Scientists are then able to test for specific disorders once they know the location of the gene that causes the disorder and have developed a test for its presence [Jaroff,1996]. The healthy embryos are implanted or frozen for future use, and the unhealthy e mbryos are d iscarded [Kenen,1994]. This procedure is still being perfected and clinics that perform this procedure are scarce. According to Denise Grady [1995], in the United States there are only seven clinics that perform PGD. Development/History PGD was developed to increase the ... ...se In vitro f ertilization and PGD to eliminate people such as these. Everyone deserves the chance to live and experience all that our world has to offer—good and bad. Life is a beautiful experience References: Grady, Denise. Unnatural Selection. Vogue. October 1995. Holme, Howard. Choose Better Human Genes. Obtained from the WWW: HOLME Jaroff, Leon. Keys to the Kingdom. Time. Fall 1996. V148. N14. Kenen, Regina H. Pregnancy in the Genetic Age. The Network News. July-August 1994. V19. N4. Macer Darryl R.J. Shaping Genes: Ethics, Law and Science of Using New Genetic Technology in Medicine and Agriculture. Obtained from the WWW: MACER Maranto, Gina. Quest for Perfection: The Drive to Breed Better Human Beings. Simon and Schuster: New York, NY. 1996. Wekesser, Carol ed. Reproductive Technologies. Greenhaven Press, Inc: San Diego, CA. 1996.