Laser cell-sorter of sperm. Blue beam of laser light illuminates the nozzle (top centre) of a fluorescence activated cell-sorter of human sperm. \Male

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Laser cell-sorter of sperm. Blue beam of laser light illuminates the nozzle (top centre) of a fluorescence activated cell-sorter of human sperm. \Male\" and \"female\" sperm can thus be sorted. The sperm are treated with a fluorescent marker that attaches in proportion to the amount of DNA present in each sperm head. \"Male\" (Y) chromosome sperm which produce a male foetus have less DNA than \"female\" (X) chromosome sperm which produce a female foetus. The X sperm thus glow brighter in the cell-sorter; 1/4 million sperm can be sorted per hour. In vitro fertilisation can then produce a male or female foetus. Using this technique many sex-linked genetic diseases could be prevented."

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Size: 3543px × 2680px
Photo credit: © ARS PHOTO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: cell, determination, female, fluorescence, high-tech, laser, lasers, male, scientific, selection, sex, sorter, sortr, sperm, sprm, srtr, technology, types