A robot-guided in vitro fertilization procedure was successful in New York, USA. The result was encouraging: two healthy girls. However, the curious thing was the instrument used to fertilize the egg: a control of PlayStation 5.
For the procedure, scientists used a microscope, a mechanized needle, a petri dish and a laptop. The PlayStation controller was used to guide the needle and deposit the sperm in the egg accurately.
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According to British website Metro, more than a dozen eggs were fertilized by the robot. And now, two babies have been born from the successful experiments.
And who guided the fertilization using the PlayStation controller?
The hands behind the video game controller belonged to engineering student Eduardo Alba. He has no experience with reproductive medicine, but told the MIT Technology Review that he remained calm during the procedure.
“I thought, ‘It’s just another experiment,’” said the boy.
What he didn't know is that he would be so successful.
There is still a long way to go
The person responsible for fertilization using a PlayStation controller is Overture Life. However, it is not the only one focused on this type of study. There are several initiatives aimed at realizing the dream of parenthood for those who would like to have a child.
For example, the company Fertilis is focused on making “mini cribs” to accommodate a ovum. The idea is to protect it and facilitate the entry of the needle with the sperm.
It is estimated that around 500,000 babies have already been born through IVF. However, the procedure is still expensive and not always successful. That is why there is so much investment in this area of science: to make the process cheaper and more popular.
Overture Life is one of the companies that receives the most investment in research. According to the MIT Technology Review, it was more than $37 million.
Graduated in Social Communication at the Federal University of Goiás. Passionate about digital media, pop culture, technology, politics and psychoanalysis.