Potentials and limits of reproductive-biotechnology - arguments and counter-arguments

Recent developments in the biology led to enormous results in the reproductive medicine often referred to as assisted reproductive technology (ART). This article is dealing with three methods that are available for the human and veterinary medicine but mainly in the human generate several ethical concerns, as well. The first method discussed here is the in vitro fertilisation (IVF) which so far resulted in birth of more than 4 million children and brought a real breakthrough into the fight against human infertility. At the same time it is still not clear completely which conditions mean the technical and ethical limits of this technology. Even more discussed is the somatic cell cloning which is allowed for therapeutic purposes only but forbidden to use for reproductive aims. The last issue in this article is the sex-selection of newborn babies or animal offsprings which at least from technical point of view is available, and the animal husbandry uses this procedure more and more, but in the human medicine there are big debates about its benefits. Prior to large scale introduction there is a need for intensive social and ethical discussions analysing its potential risks or benefits for the mankind.