Difference Between IVG and IVF

Created in December 02, 2024

2024   ·   biology   ·   sample-posts

The main difference between IVG (In Vitro Gametogenesis) and IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) lies in their processes and applications in reproductive technology:

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF):

  • What it is: A well-established fertility treatment where an egg is fertilized by sperm in a lab.
  • Key Steps:
    1. Ovarian stimulation: Medications stimulate a woman’s ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
    2. Egg retrieval: Eggs are collected from the ovaries.
    3. Fertilization: Eggs are combined with sperm in a laboratory to create embryos.
    4. Embryo transfer: A selected embryo is implanted into the uterus.
  • Applications: Helps individuals or couples with infertility, same-sex couples, and single parents conceive a child.
  • Established Technology: IVF has been used successfully for decades.

In Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG):

  • What it is: An emerging experimental technique where eggs and sperm are created from stem cells in a lab.
  • Key Steps:
    1. Stem cell derivation: Adult cells (like skin or blood cells) are reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
    2. Germ cell development: iPSCs are coaxed to develop into gametes (eggs or sperm) through lab protocols.
    3. Fertilization: The lab-created eggs and sperm can be combined to create embryos, similar to IVF.
  • Applications: Could one day provide fertility options for individuals who cannot produce viable gametes, such as:
    • Post-menopausal women.
    • Men and women with genetic conditions affecting fertility.
    • Same-sex couples wanting a biological child.
  • Experimental Stage: IVG is still in research and not yet available for clinical use.

Key Differences:

Feature IVF IVG
Technology Established and widely used. Experimental and in development.
Process Uses existing eggs and sperm. Creates eggs and sperm in a lab.
Applications Infertility treatment. Potential for broader fertility solutions.
Availability Clinically available. Not yet available for humans.

IVG holds transformative potential, but ethical, technical, and safety concerns must be addressed before it can become a practical option.

Gametogenesis is the biological process by which gametes (sex cells, such as sperm and eggs) are formed in sexually reproducing organisms. It occurs in the gonads (testes in males and ovaries in females) and involves a series of cellular divisions and maturation steps to produce gametes capable of participating in fertilization.

Types of Gametogenesis:

  1. Spermatogenesis (Formation of sperm cells):
    • Location: Testes (in the seminiferous tubules).
    • Process:
      • Begins with spermatogonia (diploid stem cells) undergoing mitosis.
      • Some spermatogonia differentiate into primary spermatocytes, which enter meiosis.
      • Meiosis I produces secondary spermatocytes (haploid).
      • Meiosis II produces spermatids, which further mature into spermatozoa (functional sperm cells).
    • Timeframe: Continuous process after puberty in males.
    • Result: Millions of sperm are produced daily.
  2. Oogenesis (Formation of egg cells or ova):
    • Location: Ovaries.
    • Process:
      • Begins before birth with oogonia (diploid stem cells) dividing by mitosis to form primary oocytes.
      • Primary oocytes begin meiosis but are arrested at prophase I until puberty.
      • During each menstrual cycle, a primary oocyte completes meiosis I, forming a secondary oocyte and a polar body.
      • Meiosis II is completed only if the secondary oocyte is fertilized.
    • Timeframe: Cyclical and limited; females are born with a finite number of oocytes.
    • Result: Typically, one mature ovum is released per menstrual cycle.

Key Features of Gametogenesis:

  • Meiosis: A specialized type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half (from diploid to haploid) to ensure the gametes contain only one set of chromosomes.
  • Haploid Cells: Gametes are haploid (23 chromosomes in humans), ensuring that when an egg and sperm combine during fertilization, the resulting zygote is diploid (46 chromosomes in humans).
  • Sex Differences: Spermatogenesis is a continuous and prolific process, while oogenesis is cyclic and produces fewer gametes.

Importance of Gametogenesis:

  • Essential for sexual reproduction, as it ensures genetic diversity through meiotic recombination and independent assortment.
  • Facilitates the combination of genetic material from two parents, forming offspring with unique genetic traits.