Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Millions of preselected progeny have been born since the development of The Beltsville Sperm Sexing Technology 1986. The method is based on flow cytometry and sorting is done on the basis of DNA difference of the X- and Y-chromosomes. Preselection of progeny provides an opportunity to obtain genetic gain and increased production as well as increased animal welfare and decreased environmental impact. However, the method is associated with low fertility, high costs and uncertainty whether the sorting process contributes to DNA damage and thereby results in genetically impaired progeny. Today, sex sorted sperm is only commercially available in the bovine industry, due to the fact that bull sperm is more suitable for selection than sperm from other species. Application of sex selected sperm leads to high fertility results in sheep and a commercialization might soon be available but the profitability of the production is questioned. The sorting process is too slow to sort the high amount of sperm that is needed for successful insemination of pigs. However, deep intrauterine insemination (DUI) with a Fireflex® catheter might be a future alternative for application of sex sorted sperm in the swine industry. Insemination of stallion sperm with hysteroscopy has been proven successful but the method is limited due to high costs and low fertility results. For commercialization of sex sorted sperm on any other animal species than bovine, the technology of the sorting process has to be simplified and made more effective, and more studies have to be done to investigate the impact of the sorting process on the sperm.