CBSE Class 12-science Answered
Infertile couples can be assisted to have children through certain special techniques called assisted reproductive techniques (ART), which are as follows:
(i) Test-tube baby programme: In this method, ova from the wife/donor (female) and sperms from the husband/donor (males) are collected and induced to form a zygote under simulated conditions in the laboratory. This process is called in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
The baby produced by conceiving in a culture dish and nursing in the uterus is called a test-tube baby. The test-tube baby programme involves either ZIFT (zygote intra-fallopian transfer) in which the zygote or the early embryo (up to the 8 blastomere stage) is transferred into the fallopian tube of females or IUT (intra uterine transfer) in which the embryo with more than 8 blastomeres is transferred into the uterus to complete further development of the zygote or embryo.
(ii) Gamete intra-fallopian transfer (GIFT): It is a method used in females who cannot produce ova but can provide a suitable environment for fertilisation and further development of the embryo in the oviducts.
(iii) Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): In intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a sperm is directly injected into the ovum placed in a nutrient broth.
(iv) Artificial insemination (AI): Artificial insemination is used in those females where the husband is either unable to inseminate the female or has very low sperm counts in the ejaculates. In such cases, the semen of the husband/donor male is first collected and is then artificially introduced either in the vagina or in the uterus (intra-uterine insemination or IUI) of the female.