SEX PRESELECTION

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • review article
    • Vol. 49  (1) , 122-126
Abstract
There have been attempts to select the sex of a child prior to conception in both animals and humans. Centrifugation, microelectrophoresis and density gradient sedimentation were used to separate X and Y sperm in animals. Only the latter technique has produced a change in sex ratio. In the human, timing of coitus or artificial insemination in relation to ovulation has been the popular method for influencing the sex of a child. The claims of success for coital timing are questioned. Sperm bearing the Y chromosome can now be identified by quinacrine staining. When sperm are allowed to swim into columns of liquid albumin a high percentage of Y-bearing sperm are found in the most distal portion of the column. Whether the fraction enriched with Y sperm can produce a preponderance of males is unknown.

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