Today’s objectives

• IVF class debate• Decompress a bit after TIA

IVF: In Vitro Fertilization

Artificial insemination vs IVF

• Artificial insemination–Used to treat

certain kinds of infertility–Sperm are inserted

directly into a woman’s cervix, fallopian types, or uterus

• IVF– Women are given

hormones to increase egg release

– Eggs are ‘harvested’– Eggs are fertilized– Eggs MAY be implanted– Other embryos may be

donated, destroyed, or saved, or used for research

Are we clear on IVF?

Are we clear on NORMAL fertilization?

Pre-write promptIVF allows eggs and sperm to be combined and then screened for either chromosomal abnormalities or other abnormalities more difficult to detect. It is performed when people are having trouble getting pregnant, or if people have concern about passing on a certain genetic condition, or if someone is at a higher risk of a chromosomal issue Some people are opposed to this procedure, or certain uses or consequences. Unused embryos may be destroyed, saved, shared/donated with others, or used for stem cell research

Pre-writePrewrite: 1. Clearly indicate your position on IVF in general, giving at least three reasons to support your feeling and opinion. 2. IVF is done, despite your preference one way or another. What do you think should be done with extra embryos? Explain why.3. Come up with AT LEAST one question related to the topic. (After we’ve discussed my questions, we will be open to discuss student questions/prompts, and sharing one of these can count as your participation)

Do we remember the rules?

• Most important– You DO NOT need to raise your hand to speak, but

please do not interrupt others– EVERYONE needs to speak! (There were lots of 0’s

in my 3rd period)– Consider this a time to speak about issues, and to

demonstrate our knowledge and opinion respectfully, NOT to argue!

For 2nd period

• After writing the pre write (the 3 questions), answer #1-4 on the next slides. They should be thoughtful, careful responses that show you are thinking carefully about the topic.

1. Is it morally acceptable to use IVF to screen for genetic disorders?

- It IS morally acceptable to use IVF to screen for genetic disorders b/c…

- While I understand some objections to using IVF for screening…

- Respectfully to _______, I do not feel it is acceptable to use IVF to screen for genetic disorders b/c…

2. Is it morally acceptable to use IVF to select gender?

• I believe it is acceptable to use IVF to select gender, because…– In some cases, the

‘randomness’ may have given a family a lot of one gender and none of another…

• I do NOT believe it is acceptable to use IVF to select for gender because– … selecting for gender

may lead to…– … what if our parents

had…

3. Is it morally acceptable to use IVF to screen for certain traits unrelated to health? (Examples would be eye color, hair color, physical appearance, height, etc)

4. Regardless of whether you support IVF or not, it is still a procedure that is performed. Once an embryo has been ‘selected’ and used, the rest of the embryos still exist. What should be done with them? (You can suggest what could be done with them, or argue against something that is done with them)

5. Infertility is a growing problem. Imagine a sci-fi scenario where NO ONE could get pregnant unless IVF was used, and only ~40% of females aged 16-30 produced viable eggs, BUT ~99% of women aged 16-30 could CARRY a fertilized embryo to term. In this scenario, if the population was rapidly and drastically shrinking, how should population and reproduction be handled?

6. Student Questions/topic suggestions?

Post-write

Now that we’ve discussed IVF, 1. Indicate if your position on IVF is the same, or

if it has changed, 2. Indicate AT LEAST two things that have either

changed your mind, or helped you understand a different position.

3. Indicate your position on what should be done with ‘unused,’ fertilized embryos

The fertilized embryos can be manipulated/changed as well… this is what we will focus on in our next unit: Genetic

Manipulation

Statistics