BRIEFLY DESCRIBE WHAT IN VITRO FERTILIZATION IS, HOW IT IS USED TO HELP WITH REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES TODAY

Three Parent In Vitro Fertilization Research Paper

Biology 101 – Fall 2014

This writing assignment is designed to provide opportunities for the student to find, evaluate,

select, synthesize, organize, cite, and present information and arguments clearly and effectively

for understanding scientific issues on personal, societal, and global levels.

You are the long-suffering aide to Congresswoman Smith, a well-meaning but excitable

member of the U.S. Congress. She has been too busy working on her re-election campaign to

learn about a topic her constituents are concerned about: three-parent in vitro fertilization

(I.V.F.). She needs to be educated on the topic of three parent I.V.F. Because she knows that

you are a CSUF student, and therefore highly scientifically literate, she has asked you to prepare

a 1000-word (maximum) topic summary paper. Your congresswoman is extremely busy, has

many other commitments, and is not a biologist. Therefore you need to be concise and clear, yet

thorough.

In your paper, you will include the following (about a paragraph for each point): Briefly describe what in vitro fertilization is, how it is used to help with reproductive

issues today

•

. Who generally uses I.V.F. and how successful is it?

• Briefly describe what mitochondria are and how they are inherited from the parents (you

may need to look this information up, but we will discuss some aspects of this in class).

• Briefly describe how mitochondria from a third party are incorporated into an embryo.

Use your knowledge of biotechnology and cells to explain these methods. You need to

include two methods of the incorporation of mitochondria.

• Briefly describe two diseases that this technology can be used to treat or prevent.

• In your final paragraph, address your opinion on the use of three parent I.V.F. Your

response must be supported using scientific data and logic to support your personal

opinion.

Make sure to read the following article from the New York Times:

“Three Biological Parents and a Baby” By Karen Weintraub, December 16, 2013

You should also review relevant chapters in your textbook, and use other sources to fill in

missing information. You must use and reference at least two additional sources for this

paper besides the New York Times article listed above and your textbook (making the

minimum references for your paper 4). Keep in mind that your paper should be well

supported by evidence and having a good number of quality sources will help in this regard.