Level 3 Biology Achievement Standard 3.2 – Integrating biological knowledge to develop an informed response to a socio-scientific issue. The use of IVF and Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)
PGD is a process that individuals go through when carrying out IVF. It’s is when they screen an embryo for a particular genetic defect that their baby could be born with. The goal for PGD is to produce a baby that is ‘healthy’; this raises questions on what is a healthy baby. The first step of the PGD process is to carry out IVF which is the creation of an embryo. Once the embryo has been created two or one cell are removed. The cells are then sent away and genetically tested for a specific genetic condition of the parent’s choice. If …show more content…
This is without the need for culturing cells.
The cell removed from the embryo is then tested for the defect requested. If the embryo is unaffected it can either be frozen and be used later or can be transferred to the female. If the embryo is affected they are allowed to be destroyed. For those’s who have the embryo transferred into their bodies they then have to carry out a pregnancy test in two weeks.
A biological implication is that in order to carry out PGD the couple must undergo IVF; even if the couple are fertile IVF is necessary in order to screen embryos. Going through IVF and then PGD is not only expensive and time consuming, it’s also physically and emotionally demanding. This is affecting their economical, physical and mental and emotional well beings. And because there is no guarantee of a successful result its putting more pressure on the couple. There is also no guarantee of getting pregnant. Which means that if the female doesn’t end up getting pregnant at the end of the process it means that the couple have to decide whether or not they want to go through the whole process