What is the reason why test tubes can choose the gender of the fetus

What is the reason why test tubes can choose the gender of the fetus?

Test tubes themselves cannot choose the gender of a fetus. The ability to select the sex of a child through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is due to a specific procedure called preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), not any inherent property of the test tube.

During IVF, eggs are fertilized with sperm outside the body in a petri dish (a type of laboratory dish, not specifically a “test tube”). PGD is then used to analyze the embryos created. This analysis identifies the sex chromosomes (XX for female, XY for male) of each embryo. Couples undergoing IVF with PGD can then choose to implant only embryos of the desired sex.

Therefore, the “choice” of gender isn’t made by the test tube, but rather by the medical professionals performing PGD and the couple making the decision based on the genetic testing results. The test tube, or petri dish, simply provides a location for fertilization and embryo development prior to genetic screening and implantation.