Abstract
Simple SummarySexing of sperm cells, including the capacity to preselect the sex of offspring prior to reproduction, has been a major target of reproductive biotechnology for a very long time. The advances in molecular biology, biophysics, and computer science over the past few decades, as well as the groundbreaking new methods introduced by scientists, have contributed to some major breakthroughs in a variety of branches of medicine. In particular, assisted reproduction is one of the areas in which emerging technologies such as nanotechnology and microfluidics may enhance the fertility potential of samples of sex-sorted semen, thus improving the reproductive management of farm animals and conservation programs. In human medicine, embryo sex-selection using in vitro fertilization (IVF) and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is accepted only for medical reasons. Using sex-sorting before IVF would enable specialists to prevent sex-linked genetic diseases and prevent the discharge of embryos which are not suitable for transfer due to their sex.The utilization of sex-sorted sperm for artificial insemination and in-vitro fertilization is considered a valuable tool for improving production efficiency and optimizing reproductive management in farm animals, subsequently ensuring sufficient food resource for the growing human population. Despite the fact that sperm sex-sorting is one of the most intense studied technologies and notable progress have been made in the past three decades to optimize it, the conception rates when using sex-sorted semen are still under expectations. Assisted reproduction programs may benefit from the use of emergent nano and microfluidic-based technologies. This article addresses the currently used methods for sperm sex-sorting, as well as the emerging ones, based on nanotechnology and microfluidics emphasizing on their practical and economic applicability.
Highlights
In the 20th century alone, the world’s population has grown from 1.65 billion to 6 billion and currently is estimated to be growing at a rate of around 1.08% per year—on average, 82 million people per year
The preselection of semen based on the sex chromosome is a commonly used biotechnology in the animal livestock industry for obtaining offspring of a desired sex; it is important for improving animal breeding efficiency and providing sustainable milk and beef production for the human population, being well accounted for by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Assistedreproduction programs may benefit from the use of emergent technologies, such as nanotechnologies and microfluidics
Summary
In the 20th century alone, the world’s population has grown from 1.65 billion to 6 billion and currently is estimated to be growing at a rate of around 1.08% per year—on average, 82 million people per year. Organization, there will be 9.5 billion people by 2050, and this growth associated with economic development in several mid-income countries will implicitly bring changes in diet, so the demand for animal products will increase. Sperm-sorting, one of the most valuable instruments in assisted reproduction, allows for the selection of “healthy” sperm, as well as the determination of specific traits, such as sex, process in which sperm cells are separated into two distinct populations with X-bearing (female), respectively Y-bearing (male) chromosomes [3,4,5]. The utilization sex-sorted sperm for artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization is considered a valuable tool for improving production efficiency and optimizing reproductive management in farm animals, subsequently ensuring sufficient food resource for the growing human population [6,7,8]. This article addresses the currently used methods for sperm sex-sorting, as well as the emerging ones, emphasizing their practical and economic applicability
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