Current development of IVF technology
IVF technology is a kind of assisted reproductive technology, which aims to help couples who cannot conceive naturally achieve their reproductive aspirations. With the progress of science and technology, IVF technology has also been continuously improved and innovated, and many breakthroughs have been made. The following will elaborate on the current development of IVF technology from four aspects: embryo culture, gamete screening, embryo gene editing and non-traditional family forms.
Progress in embryo culture
Embryo culture is a very critical step in IVF technology. In the past, embryos could only be cultured in vitro for a few days, and then the most promising embryos were selected for implantation into the mother. But now, embryo culture technology has made a major breakthrough. Through research, scientists from the Dahames Greenhouse Laboratory of Karolinska College in Sweden and Queen Mary University in London in the United Kingdom found that providing proper oxygen concentration and pressure to embryos can significantly improve their development quality. They use hypoxia environment, which helps the embryo develop better in vitro. This breakthrough has further improved the success rate of IVF technology.
Moreover, the time of embryo culture has been extended. In the past, embryos were usually only allowed to stay in the culture dish for a few days, which made it difficult to assess the real situation of their development in vitro. But now, scientists have found that by transferring embryos to biosensors, they can observe and study the development of embryos in a longer time. This provides more information and possibility for selecting the most suitable embryo for implantation.
Breakthrough in Gamete Screening
An important part of IVF technology is the screening of gamete quality. Unlike the past methods of screening based only on appearance, modern IVF technology combines gene detection and genomics technology to achieve more accurate and comprehensive gamete screening. For example, researchers at Sloan Caitlin Cancer Center in the United States discovered a gene called Maelstrom through genomics analysis. This gene can affect the development of female embryos, thus providing a new clue for regulating embryo selection. In addition, more and more hospitals are introducing genome-wide screening technology to help couples screen gametes that may carry genetic diseases by detecting all the genetic information of gametes.
Breakthrough in Embryo Gene Editing
Embryonic gene editing technology is an important breakthrough in the field of IVF technology in recent years. Scientists can use CRISPR-Cas9 system to edit its genome at the early stage of embryonic development. The breakthrough of this technology makes it possible to modify embryos with genetic disease genes and improve healthy fertility. In 2018, Chinese scientist He Jiankui successfully used CRISPR-Cas9 to modify genetic diseases caused by single gene defects. This breakthrough has aroused worldwide attention and discussion.
Acceptance of non-traditional family forms
With the progress of society, the acceptance of non-traditional family forms is also gradually improving. IVF technology has been widely used in groups such as same-sex couples, single women and infertile couples. For example, the Los Angeles Fertility Center in the United States has provided IVF technology to many same-sex couples and successfully helped them achieve their reproductive aspirations. This trend shows that people's acceptance of IVF technology is getting higher and higher, and society gradually recognizes different forms of families and provides them with more support.
Summary
Many breakthroughs have been made in the development of IVF technology. In embryo culture, scientists improved the quality of embryo development by controlling oxygen concentration and pressure; In terms of gamete screening, technologies such as gene detection and whole genome screening have been continuously improved; Embryo gene editing technology enables the modification of embryos with genetic disease genes; The acceptance of non-traditional family forms is also gradually increasing. These breakthroughs have provided more possibilities for different groups to realize their reproductive aspirations, and further promoted the development of IVF technology.
