Research progress of three generation IVF technology
With the continuous progress of science and technology, assisted reproductive technology in the medical community has also made great progress. Among them, the third-generation IVF technology, as an efficient way of reproduction, not only brings good news to those infertile patients, but also provides more choices for other healthy people. In this paper, the research progress of three generation IVF technology will be elaborated from four aspects: embryo screening, embryo transfer, fetal sex selection and infant gene improvement.
Embryo screening
Embryo screening refers to the screening of embryos with a certain gene mutation by taking a small number of cells for genetic testing when the embryos are cultured to the age of 5 days. This technology can help couples avoid passing on genetic diseases to the next generation. At present, clinical practice of embryo screening has been carried out in many hospitals in China. For example, Peking Union Medical College Hospital successfully used this technology to select an embryo with a genetic disease in 2017 and successfully transplanted it into the patient's uterus.
However, embryo screening also faces some moral and ethical disputes. Some people worry that embryo screening may give rise to various illegitimate demands such as sex selection and appearance selection, which will have a negative impact on human genetic diversity and natural selection. Therefore, in the practice of embryo screening, we need not only scientific and reasonable technology, but also strict moral standards and regulatory mechanisms.
embryo transfer
Embryo transfer refers to the transfer of cultured and screened embryos into women's uterus through various technical methods to achieve pregnancy and delivery. With the development of assisted reproductive technology, the success rate of embryo transfer has increased year by year. Some hospitals, such as the Children's Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, have formed a relatively mature system of embryo transfer technology. In addition, in order to improve the success rate of embryo transfer, some researchers continue to explore new auxiliary technologies, such as photodynamic therapy and cryopreservation technology.
However, there are still some difficulties and risks in the process of embryo transfer. For example, there may be various reasons for the failure of embryo transfer, including endometrial maladjustment, embryo quality problems, etc. Therefore, scientists are trying to find better ways to improve the success rate of embryo transfer and reduce unnecessary pain and risk.
Fetal sex selection
With the progress of science and technology, it is now possible to conduct fetal sex selection through assisted reproductive technology. The application of this technology can not only meet the expectations of some couples for the gender of their offspring, but also avoid the inheritance of some gender related genetic diseases. However, fetal sex selection has also triggered some ethical and moral disputes. Some people worry that the abuse of this technology may lead to gender imbalance, which will have a negative impact on the population structure and social development. Therefore, fetal sex selection needs to be carried out under a reasonable regulatory and ethical framework.
Infant genetic modification
Infant gene modification refers to the use of gene editing technology to genetically modify the embryo to change its genetic characteristics. The research in this field is still in its infancy, but some important breakthroughs have been made. For example, some scientific research institutions in China have successfully used CRISPR technology to remove HIV susceptibility genes from human embryos.
However, infant gene modification technology involves some important ethical and moral issues. Countries and international organizations are still discussing and exploring the legitimacy and feasibility of this technology. We need to ensure that the research and application of infant genetic improvement technology always take people's well-being and ethical standards as the starting point, and avoid abuse and improper behavior.
Summary
To sum up, the three generation IVF technology has made some progress in embryo screening, embryo transfer, fetal sex selection and infant gene improvement. These technologies not only bring fertility hope to those infertile patients, but also provide more choices for other people. However, these technologies still face some ethical and moral problems in the application process, which requires the joint efforts of scientists, doctors and all sectors of society to ensure their reasonable, safe and ethical applications.
