Biotechnology through In-Vitro Fertilization
Biotechnology has greatly impacted the way we live today. It is the use technology on living organisms in order to produce substances useful to today’s society. For example, the invention of Invitro Fertilization, also known as IVF.
Invitro Fertilization is when an egg (the ova) is surgically removed from women in order to create fertilization inside a test tube. IVF was invented for women who were born barren/ infertile (unable to bear offspring) or women who simply cannot reproduce, so that they can have the ability that every woman should have; children. This advancement in technology, allows couples to choose or screen the embryos wanted for implantation. This is important for couples that are at risk of having a child with a hereditary disease.
The way IVF works is that the eggs are surgically removed using a needle from the female. Then the removed egg is then fertilized with sperm, outside the mother’s body in a small glass tube or dish. The sperm is threaded into the ova through a needle. This is called Artificial Insemination. Subsequently after, the fertilized egg is incubated in the laboratory until it is at the two or four cell stage. Then the embryo is then placed into the women’s uterus for implantation.
However, with this great advancement in technology, it promotes inequality between people who have access to this particular technology, and those who do not, as IVF is very expensive, not everyone can afford it. Additionally, not every implantation works, which means if the family loses the embryo, they would have to fork out thousands of dollars more for something that might not even work. Furthermore, we do not also have the right to interfere directly with the creation of life, ‘trying to play God’. There is a danger that IVF technology could be used to build a superior race.
To conclude, biotechnology is very beneficial towards society, through the aforementioned ways of IVF.
Invitro Fertilization is when an egg (the ova) is surgically removed from women in order to create fertilization inside a test tube. IVF was invented for women who were born barren/ infertile (unable to bear offspring) or women who simply cannot reproduce, so that they can have the ability that every woman should have; children. This advancement in technology, allows couples to choose or screen the embryos wanted for implantation. This is important for couples that are at risk of having a child with a hereditary disease.
The way IVF works is that the eggs are surgically removed using a needle from the female. Then the removed egg is then fertilized with sperm, outside the mother’s body in a small glass tube or dish. The sperm is threaded into the ova through a needle. This is called Artificial Insemination. Subsequently after, the fertilized egg is incubated in the laboratory until it is at the two or four cell stage. Then the embryo is then placed into the women’s uterus for implantation.
However, with this great advancement in technology, it promotes inequality between people who have access to this particular technology, and those who do not, as IVF is very expensive, not everyone can afford it. Additionally, not every implantation works, which means if the family loses the embryo, they would have to fork out thousands of dollars more for something that might not even work. Furthermore, we do not also have the right to interfere directly with the creation of life, ‘trying to play God’. There is a danger that IVF technology could be used to build a superior race.
To conclude, biotechnology is very beneficial towards society, through the aforementioned ways of IVF.