Reproductive Technology, Genetic Testing, and Gene Therapy Flashcards

Flashcards on reproductive technology, genetic testing, and gene therapy.

Primary Infertility

Couples that have not had a child yet.

Secondary Infertility

Couples that already have had a child.

Causes of Female Infertility

Low estrogen or endometriosis.

Causes of Male Infertility

Low sperm count, lifestyle hormones, or retrograde ejaculation.

Retrograde Ejaculation

Sperm move up into the bladder.

Varicocele

Swelling of the veins in the scrotum, affecting 15% of men.

Varicocele Pathophysiology

Poor circulation leading to blood pooling in the testes.

Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)

Artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, gamete intrafallopian transfer, zygote intrafallopian transfer

Artificial Insemination

Fresh donor sperm injected into the uterus.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

Hormones stimulate egg production, eggs are fertilized outside the body, and embryos are implanted.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

Inject sperm directly into the egg cell.

Physiological ICSI (PICSI)

Uses hyaluronium to select healthier sperm for injection.

Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)

Sperm and egg cells collected and placed into fallopian tubes for normal fertilization.

Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT)

Eggs fertilized externally via IVF, then implanted into fallopian tubes immediately after fertilization.

Multi-Parent Babies

Used when the mother has a known mitochondrial condition.

Maternal Spindle Transfer

Nucleus is removed from a donor egg with healthy mitochondria, and the intended mother's chromosomes are inserted.

Pro-Nuclear Transfer

Both the donor egg and mother's egg are fertilized, then the nuclei are swapped before cell division.

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)

Ovary swelling, fluid imbalances, kidney failure.

Types of Genetic Testing

Newborn screening, carrier testing, prenatal testing, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis.

Newborn Screening

Heel prick blood collection, 48-72 hours post-birth.

Carrier Testing

Detects carriers of diseases and associated risks.

Prenatal Testing

Testing a fetus for up to 200 diseases.

Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGT)

Tests embryos at 6-8 cells post-fertilization.

Polar Body Biopsy

Tests the egg before fertilization by examining the polar body.

Gene Therapy

Methods to correct mutated genes by inserting a normal gene.

Viral Vectors

Modified viruses used to deliver genes.

Risks of Gene Therapy

Unwanted immune reactions, targeting wrong cells, infection, tumor formation.