Gender Determination

Paper Summary:

Thanks to amazing advancements in science, parents can now choose the sex of their child. This paper discusses the reasons why certain cultures prefer male babies over female ones and the ethical question regarding gender determination. It also looks at methods used in the medical field to select a particular sex, including the MicroSort Method and preimplantation.

From the Paper:

"The least effective and oldest scientific technique is called the Ericsson Method. This method separates sperm by pouring it on a thick layer of fluid. Since sperm is head-heavy, they naturally swim down. The theory is that sperm with the Y chromosome swims faster than the sperm with the X, reaching the bottom of the test-tube first. At this point, the sperm is removed from the tube and used in insemination. Champions of this low-cost method claim a 78 to 85 percent chance of producing a boy. Critics challenge that, saying the odds are not better than 50-50. (Ulick 49) If that's true, then the 18th century French method of men tying a string around their left testicle to produce a boy seems a bit more painful, but just as accurate."

More papers on Gender Determination:

• Essay # 90401 : "Gender Selection"
• Book Review # 120409 : "Gender Relations in "One for the Money"
• Book Review # 117352 : "Race, Class, and Gender in the US"

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