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by Jen (writer), July 26, 2007

In the 1932 dystopia classic “Brave New World” Aldous Huxley envisions a world in which the world state has complete control over reproduction. It is a world where natural childbirth is all but obsolete, and humans “engineered” to be perfectly adapted to their pre-determined station in life are produced in factories.

Now, thanks to researchers from the University of Tokyo in Japan, we are one step closer to realizing his nightmare.

This realization comes in the form of an artificial microfluidic chip designed to more closely mimic the womb for in-vitro fertilized (IFV) embryos. Traditional methods of IVF involve manipulation of the developing embryos to provide essential nutrients, often resulting in a temporarily detrimental environment. Such manual manipulations are unnecessary with the chip. Fertilized eggs are grown alongside uterine lining endometrial cells which provide nutrients and growth factors that would be found in a natural womb. There is no need to disturb the developing embryos prior to implantation. While fertilization of the egg is still performed manually, the group hopes to develop a fully automated version of the chip in which eggs and sperm are deposited in one end and an implantation ready embryo comes out the other.

Tests in mice have shown that fertilized eggs grown on the chip are 8% more likely to develop into embryos, and 4% more likely to develop into healthy fetuses post-implantation. While this may not sound impressive, the success rate of IVF for women under 35 is only 37% after an extensive program of hormone therapy, followed by invasive surgery. Therefore, any increase in the chance of success is truly welcome. With approval to test the device using human embryos, it shouldn’t be long before the chip finds its way to a fertility clinic near you.

Couple this technology to the growing popularity of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), and you can almost start planning the ground-breaking ceremony for the new “Aldous Huxley Baby Factory” (bringing you the very best humans for a fraction of the cost).

Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a technique that allows for the screening of pre-implantation embryos. One or two cells are removed from the early embryo and tested for single-gene defects such as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease), Alzheimer's, Inherited breast and ovarian cancer, Cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Emanuel Syndrome (severe mental retardation), and Tay-Sachs Disease among others. In addition, embryos can be tested to determine the sex of the embryo for sex-linked disorders.

Or, you can have your embryos tested because you want your child to be a particular gender.

Consider that for a moment.

It is already possible to “sex-select” sperm for artificial insemination. But what if we could select for things like blonde hair and blue eyes? As our knowledge gene function grows, so will our arsenal of PGD tests. Perhaps you would like a male child that will grow to be 6 ft. tall, maintain a full head of hair, and (after you furtively assure that the couple behind you in line isn’t flying their gay pride colors) you might also ask that he be heterosexual. Unsure? Talk to one of our trained specialists to determine what kind of child is right for you. PGD: the power to bring you a kinder, softer form of eugenics than ever before.

Don’t worry, “It Can’t Happen Here”.

Now, if someone would just give life to Woody Allen’s vision of the Orgasmatron we could do away with the whole business of sex and focus on more important stuff…like beating Chinook at checkers.



http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-07/ns-egb072507.php
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/ART2004/nation04.asp
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1120169
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/medicine/genetest.shtml

Read more articles on: medicine , environment , gay , sex , japan

Jen is a writer for BrooWaha. For more information, visit the writer's website.