Nilacharal

Pre-Implantational Genetic Diagnosis - A Controversial Pre-Conception Sex-Selection Procedure

Recently the Tamil Nadu government took an action against a clinic in Madurai known as Centre for Infertility Tests and Assisted Reproductive Technologies (CITART). The fault of this clinic is that it offered sex selection before conception. The dilemma that the human society faces with respect to technologies out of scientific inventions is confronting us once again. The developments in nuclear science threw up the option of nuclear bombs for which the human community paid the heavy price in 1945. The 56th anniversary of the nuclear bombing on Hiroshima and Nakasaki was observed on 5th August. We took a conscious decision to continue the research in nuclear filed for constructive purposes such as nuclear energy and radioactive isotopes for medical applications while restraining ourselves from exercising the destructive aspects of this research. Science is a double-edged sword and it is up to the human society to adopt this for meaningful purposes.

Recently there were articles in magazines on a yet another controversial technology ("India Today" dated July 16, 200, pp 54-57 and Tamil weekly "Kumudham" dated August 8, 2001, pp 66-71). The US-based scientist Ronald J Ericsson pioneered this technology known as "XY separation technology". This technology is a boon in the sense it would pre-empt the possibility of having a baby with genetic disorders. This technology is originally intended for avoiding sex-linked genetic diseases and to have a healthy child. Bu tin reality this technology is misused and it is a jolt on the already skewed sex ratio in our country. Before we get in to the legal and social aspects of this technology, let us see what this technology is all about.

Ericsson's Method to Separate XY chromosomes

There are two types of chromosomes - X and Y. A human being has 46 chromosomes (23 pairs). The male human species has X and Y-chromosomes whereas the female human species has only X-chromosomes. In terms of reproduction, man's sperm has X or Y-chromosomes whereas the woman's egg has only X-chromosomes. The combination of the type of chromosome (X or Y) from a sperm and the X-chromosome of the egg decides the gender of the baby. If the combination is X from egg and Y from sperm (i.e. XY combination) it gives rise to male baby and if the combination is X from egg and X from sperm (i.e. XX combination) it gives rise to female baby. In the controversial sex-selection procedure, the X and Y- chromosome bearing sperms are separated and the Y-chromosome bearing sperms are used to fertilize the female egg to ensure the conception of a male embryo.

The above-mentioned procedure is popularly known as Ericsson's method wherein a semen sample is diluted and then centrifuged. X and Y-bearing sperms are separated when placed in a chemical solution. Among the X and Y-bearing sperms, Y-sperms are faster moving and they penetrate the bottom layer of the solution, which is denser. This bottom layer with Y-sperms are collected and once again centrifuged. This process is repeated many times to enrich the semen with Y-sperms. The Y-sperm concentrate is collected for artificial insemination and this technology assures a baby boy for desperate couple who long for a baby boy. The success rate of this technology is claimed to be about 70 per cent. The cost involved in this procedure is anywhere between Rs 25,000-60,000.

Pre-Implantational Genetic Diagnosis

In the Pre-Implantational Genetic Diagnosis (PIGD) eggs are fertilized in a petridish. Here there is no separation of X and Y-sperms and both X and Y-bearing sperms are allowed to fertilize the egg. The resulting male and female embryos are identified under a microscope. The female embryos are selectively discarded ad the male embryos are implanted in the uterus. This assures almost 100% success rate to beget a baby boy. It is also mentioned in the few sections of the Press that some doctors also advice the woman partners to use a chemical to slow down or kill off X-chromosome-bearing sperms during sexual intercourse.

Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act

The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act was brought into force in 1996 to prevent sex determination after conception through ultrasonography, amniocentesis and other techniques. The PNDT act was brought into force basically against female infanticide and foeticide. It was targeted against abortions of female foetuses following sex-determination tests. According to the 1996 PNDT Act, it is mandatory for all clinics with scan facility to register with the state. In reality, this guideline is hardly adhered to. A writ petition was filed in the Supreme Court citing the proliferation of unregistered scan centres that enable the abortion of female foetuses. The petition demanded that the 1996 PNDT Act should be effectively implemented. In fact, in reply to the notice from the Supreme Court related to the Writ petition, 18 states have accepted the fact that they have no registration facilities. Such is the callous attitude of the governments in implementing its own legislation. Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal are described as a Bermuda Triangle where millions of girls disappear. The illegal abortions after ultrasonography are highly practiced in these states. The Apex court has given a ruling on this writ petition three months back. This ruling slammed the Centre and state governments for non-implementation of the act. ....more