Reproductive Health — Part 3: Amniocentesis, infertility and assisted reproduction: visual lesson, CBSE Class 12 Biology

Lesson

Amniocentesis, infertility and ART

Part 3 — testing the health of a foetus, and the technologies that help couples who cannot conceive.

In this lesson you will

Describe amniocentesis, its use and why its misuse is banned
List causes of infertility
Explain IVF with embryo transfer (ZIFT, IUT), GIFT, ICSI and artificial insemination
Discuss the limits of assisted reproductive technologies and the option of adoption

Diagram

Amniocentesis

Schematic, not to scale.

Amniocentesis is a foetal test in which a small sample of amniotic fluid is taken from around the developing foetus. The fluid contains cells shed by the foetus, which are examined for genetic disorders and chromosomal abnormalities.

Concept

Use and misuse

The same test that detects disorders could also reveal the sex of the foetus. Its use for sex determination has led to female foeticide, so there is a statutory ban on using amniocentesis or any prenatal test to find the sex of a foetus.

Table of proper use and misuse of amniocentesis, the law, and the effect of misuse
	Detail
Proper use	Detect genetic disorders and chromosomal abnormalities such as Down’s syndrome
Misuse	Finding the sex of the foetus, followed by female foeticide
Law	Statutory ban on prenatal sex determination
Effect of misuse	Falling child sex ratio; injustice to girls

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