A first amount of sperm of a first animal and a second amount of sperm of a second animal of the same species, the first amount of sperm and the second amount of sperm sex-selected sperm of the same sex, useful in the in-vivo or in-vitro fertilization of an egg of a female animal of the same species of animal for the production of sex-selected embryos and sex-selected offspring.

A first amount of sperm of a first animal and a second amount of sperm of a second animal of the same species, the first amount of sperm and the second amount of sperm sex-selected sperm of the same sex, useful in the in-vivo or in-vitro fertilization of an egg of a female animal of the same species of animal for the production of sex-selected embryos and sex-selected offspring.

A method of in vitro fertilization wherein the embryo is implanted into the uterus of a female patient at least two, and preferably three to twelve months after the eggs are retrieved from the patient in order to reduce the effect of autoimmune rejection of the embryo by the patient's autoimmune system and increase the probability and success of pregnancy and wherein prior to embryo implantation, the endometrium in the uterus is prepared for embryo implantation by introducing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) into the uterus. The procedure is combined with cryopreservation techniques to preserve the oocytes or the IVF-produced embryos of the patient.

A method of in vitro fertilization wherein the embryo is implanted into the uterus of a female patient at least two, and preferably three to twelve months after the eggs are retrieved from the patient in order to reduce the effect of autoimmune rejection of the embryo by the patient's autoimmune system and increase the probability and success of pregnancy and wherein prior to embryo implantation, the endometrium in the uterus is prepared for embryo implantation by introducing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) into the uterus. The procedure is combined with cryopreservation techniques to preserve the oocytes or the IVF-produced embryos of the patient.

A novel piezo-driven cell injection system with force feedback overcomes the unsatisfied force interaction between the pipette needle and embryos in conventional position control. By integrating semiconductor strain-gage sensors for detecting the cell penetration force and the micropipette relative position in real time, the developed cell microinjection system features high operation speed, confident success rate, and high survival rate. The effectiveness of the developed cell injection system is experimentally verified by penetrating zebrafish embryos. The injection of 100 embryos are conducted with separate position control and force control. Results indicate that the force control enables a survival rate of 86%, which is higher than the survival rate of 82% produced by the position control in the same control environment. The experimental results quantitatively demonstrate the superiority of force control over conventional position control for the first time.

A novel piezo-driven cell injection system with force feedback overcomes the unsatisfied force interaction between the pipette needle and embryos in conventional position control. By integrating semiconductor strain-gage sensors for detecting the cell penetration force and the micropipette relative position in real time, the developed cell microinjection system features high operation speed, confident success rate, and high survival rate. The effectiveness of the developed cell injection system is experimentally verified by penetrating zebrafish embryos. The injection of 100 embryos are conducted with separate position control and force control. Results indicate that the force control enables a survival rate of 86%, which is higher than the survival rate of 82% produced by the position control in the same control environment. The experimental results quantitatively demonstrate the superiority of force control over conventional position control for the first time.

A method for biasing sex selection, the method comprising the introduction into a uterus of a subject a volume of micro-particle conjugates (10), wherein the micro-particle conjugates are proportioned so as to approximate the size and shape of spermatozoa and thereby be carried by peristaltic waves through the uterus and fallopian tubes to the infundibulum, at which point any spermatozoa present or arriving thereafter undergo capacitation and expose antigens that may be bound by anti-male antibodies (14) provided in the micro-particle conjugates (10), the binding of the exposed antigens on the spermatozoa by the anti-male antibodies resulting in their inability to penetrate the Zona Pellucida of an egg and effect fertilisation.

A method for biasing sex selection, the method comprising the introduction into a uterus of a subject a volume of micro-particle conjugates (10), wherein the micro-particle conjugates are proportioned so as to approximate the size and shape of spermatozoa and thereby be carried by peristaltic waves through the uterus and fallopian tubes to the infundibulum, at which point any spermatozoa present or arriving thereafter undergo capacitation and expose antigens that may be bound by anti-male antibodies (14) provided in the micro-particle conjugates (10), the binding of the exposed antigens on the spermatozoa by the anti-male antibodies resulting in their inability to penetrate the Zona Pellucida of an egg and effect fertilisation.

A test pad comprising multiple urine attribute patches and urine detection patches in a BAYER pattern is described. The test pad is suitable for automated urine analysis of multiple animals in a cage. Generalized detection patches may be arranged adjacent to and surrounding each individual test patch for a specific urine attribute. First, fresh urine is detected in a detection patch with a camera; a timer is started; then adjacent urine attribute patches are read. Once a test patch has been used once it is disregarded for future analysis.

A method for determining the mated status of female fruit flies, focusing on determining the presence of spermatozoa in a sample fly's ventral receptacle (VR). The ventral receptacle is the organ where eggs become fertilized. The VR is the first and last organ in a mated female fly to contain spermatozoa. The VR is thus the most accurate organ for determining whether a female fruit fly has recently mated. The method is a squash method. The fly's ventral receptacle is isolated, and then squeezed so as to cause spermatozoa stored in the ventral receptacle to be released into the lumen of the VR. This permits use of a microscope to determine the presence or absence of spermatozoa in the female fruit fly, and thus the mated status of the female fruit fly.