Jacaranda Science 2
8.7 Eggs on ice?
Name:
Activities
Remember, think, discuss, evaluate and decide
Articles 1 and 2
Read through articles 1 (‘Birth of a legal dilemma’) and 2 (‘Hope at first human egg bank’) and answer the following questions.
1.What is a human egg bank?
2.(a)Who may and who may not use the frozen egg bank?
(b)Do you agree with this? Give reasons for your opinions.
3.Suggest the advantages and disadvantages of the frozen egg bank.
4.If you were given the opportunity next week, would you have your sperm or eggs frozen? Give reasons for your response.
5.How many Rios embryos were frozen?
6.When and why were the Rios embryos frozen?
7.Which type of infertility made it difficult for the Rios couple to conceive naturally?
8.Make a list of the problems or dilemmas that occurred after Mr and Mrs Rios died in the plane crash in 1983.
9.Suggest the types of laws or regulations that you would impose on frozen embryo technology.
10.Summarise the new IVF legislation laws stated in the article.
11.Do you agree or disagree with each of these laws? Give a reason for your opinions.
12.Once out of the nitrogen tank, how long would the embryos stay alive?
13.State two reasons why the Rios embryos would be unlikely to grow into a child.
14.What do you think should happen to the Rios embryos? Why?
Article 3
Read article 3 (‘Widow loses husband’s sperm fight’) and answer the following questions.
15.Outline what the widow AB wants to achieve.
16.Why was the planned IVF procedure not lawful under the Infertility Treatment Act?
17.Is this IVF procedure unlawful nationally (all over Australia)? Explain.
18.What is your opinion on the situation described in this article?
19.Discuss your opinion with those of other class members. Have you changed your opinion after the discussion?
Article 4
Read article 4 (‘IVF limit for over-45s’) and answer the following questions.
20.Summarise the key points in the article.
21.What is your opinion on this restriction? Discuss this with your team-mates to find out what they think about it.
Article 5
Read article 5 (‘Choice is now a curse’) and answer the following questions, individually, in a pair or as a team.
22.If you had the power to write the laws on egg donation, what would they be?
23.The comment has been made that some egg donors can be likened to battery hens. What do think is meant by this? Do you consider it a fair comment? Give reasons for your answer.
24.What is your opinion on commercial egg donation? Share your opinion with others in the class.
Articles 6 and 7
Read articles 6 (Birth of the ‘womb tank’) and 7 (‘Virgin birth’ controversy) and answer the following question.
25.(a)How do you feel about the idea of babies being grown in artificial wombs? …….Summarise your team discussion. As a class, debate points for and against this …….future option for pregnancy and childbirth.
(b)Imagine a future in which embryos were created without sperm. Suggest what these embryos might be used for. What sort of impact could this have on individuals, families and societies of the future. Write a story about what life would be like in such a future.
(c)Suggest other questions that relate to reproduction in the future.
Notes:
©John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd1