The future of sex (Sex in de toekomst)

Those whom have saw the 1976 movie Logan’s Run thinks that the future of Sex will be for entertainment purpose only. The actual reprocreation has come down to cloning the best of breed of the earth. Selecting the best genes in order to build a perfect baby! No, in the future, sex will be for fun and reprocreation ... however.

Since the seventies there have been many babies that were conceived through IVF (in vitro fertilization). The techniques haven’t change much since then and the actual succes-rate of IVF is low and very stress-full on the want-to-be-parents. Only around 25% of all IVF conceptions succeed. All around the world, medical universities are trying to understand this very complex process of conception and pregnancy. It’s one of natures secrets that is very difficult to mimic.

In the future, sex will remain the natural way to keep the world population in balance. In japan a group of scientists have created an artificial womb for them, who are sterile but have a child-wish. The scientists at the university of Tokyo have developed a microchip, based on the Micro Electro Mechanical Systems principle of MEMS for short, that imitates the womb of a mother in order to create the best possible condition for a embryo to develop. The microchip is a lab-on-a-chip, that manages fluids in stead of electrons. It will help increases the success rate of IVF.

Research has shown that 30 of the 50 fertilized eggs will develop more quickly into a embryo. The biggest difference between this new technology and the traditional IVF method is in the concept of supporting development. Traditional IVF uses mineral oils and other fluids to stop the fertilized egg from drying out. The artificial womb on a chip has a membrane with (cultivated) uterus cells that hold the egg similar to a natural womb.

Research has shown that in a time frame of 72 hours, about 80% of all fertilized eggs are ready to be placed into a natural womb. Where as the traditional IVF method, only 20% of the eggs in the same time will be developed into embryos that can be placed back.

Now for the downside of this technology. The chip will be used foremost to procreate cattle. Eventually, the children of the future will be conceived on the artificial microchip womb. And then the future of sex will be for entertainment only, just as with Logan’s Run.

Referentie: Universiteit van Tokyo