Is IVG a Threat to the Future of Reproductive Science?

 by Lissiana Jakaj

In Vitro Gametogenesis is a revolutionary method of fertility, which allows hope for infertile couples to have a child with their own DNA in lieu of using sperm or egg donors. The technique consists of retrieving pluripotent adult cells and coaxing them into egg or sperm cells which eventually fuse together, successfully forming an embryo. Whilst IVG carries a promise to provide an understanding of the fundamentals of infertility and additionally broadens the range of current therapies, there are also many ethical questions that we should consider before IVG is set for human trials.

The extensive use of IVG may prompt worries concerning human enhancement via preimplantation genetic diagnosis. The practice is currently being used within IVF treatment to screen for genetic defects which could be life threatening. Due to the unlimited supply of IVG generated embryos, there potentially may be some unease about parents choosing which embryos to use for their offspring merely based on desired genetic traits, therefore creating “designer offspring”. Additionally, there remains a fear that unauthorised biological material such as skin cells and hair could be used to create human embryos. This means that anyone from any age to a person who has been dead for several years and their cells have been saved could become genetic parents. Also, people could potentially steal DNA from others or celebrities without their knowledge in order to make their babies. This calls the legal definition of parenthood into question and possibly may spark debates about creating laws so that people cannot become genetic parents without their consent.

Despite this, IVG offers a safer and cheaper alternative to IVF treatment which is mentally and physically strenuous. The absence of injectable hormones needed for ovarian stimulation reduces the risk of harm on the body, making IVG a more appealing treatment. Furthermore, certain hereditary forms of infertility such as Kallmans syndrome or FragileX syndrome may become treatable by implanting healthy, genetically edited cells. The method may help scientists discover the genetic abnormalities which are accountable for DNA defects and inherited conditions. In addition, the process of IVG could possibly prevent distressing mitochondrial diseases (which affect approximately 1 in 3500 people in the UK) by creating eggs cells or even oocytes, free of such defects. Moreover, IVG technology can be used in other approaches for instance helping those who undergo cancer treatments which damage their reproductive organs and tissues, or even aiding prepubertal children who have immature reproductive systems meaning that their reproductivity can be saved.

Recently, two reproductive biologists in Japan Katsuhiko Hayashi and Mitorini Saitou announced that they trialled the IVG process on mice, which led to a successful outcome. The scientists retrieved skin cells from the mouse's tail and programmed them into stem cells which were then turned into egg cells. Once viable embryos were made, they were then transferred into the uteruses of female mice, resulting in ten healthy pups which went on to give birth to some of their own. This discovery provides proof that gametes are able to be produced outside the body from nonreproductive cells, possibly altering the science of human reproduction forever.

Overall, IVG contributes to the ever-evolving field of reproductive science and may even become a sought-after procedure in the upcoming generations, but the question of whether this technology is ethical and should be used still remains. Do you think that IVG will provide hope for the future or rather peril?