High purity x-chromosome bearing and y-chromosome bearing populations of spermatozoa

• US 20040053243A1
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: XY, LLC (Inguran LLC)
• Original Assignee: XY Incorporated (Inguran LLC)
• Inventors: Evans, Kenneth M., van Munster, Erik B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,371,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 19/00 Instruments or methods for reproduction or fertilisation
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 9/00 General arrangement of separating plant, e.g. flow sheets
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/061 Sperm cells, spermatogonia
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0612 sorting of gametes, e.g. according to sex or motility
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6879 for sex determination
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 17/00 Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/14 Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/147 the analysis being performed on a sample stream
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/149 specially adapted for sorting particles, e.g. by their size or optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/149 Sorting the particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/17 Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated where the material investigated is optically excited causing a change in wavelength of the incident light G01N21/63

Abstract

Isolated non-naturally occurring populations of spermatozoa (15) having high purity and technologies to differentiate spermatozoa (28) based on characteristics such as mass, volume, orientation, or emitted light including methods of analysis and apparatus such as beam shaping optics (30) and detectors (32).

Claims

1. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells, comprising the steps of:

a. collecting sperm cells from a male of a species of mammal;

b. determining a sex differentiation characteristic of said sperm cells;

c. differentiating between said sperm cells based upon said sex differentiation characteristic;

d. separating differentiated sperm cells into a X-chromosome bearing population and a Y-chromosome bearing population; and

e. producing separate X-chromosome bearing and Y-chromosome bearing populations of sperm cells each having a purity of greater than 90%.

2. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 1, wherein said step of differentiating between said sperm cells based upon said sex differentiation characteristic comprises assessing an amount of DNA within a nucleus of said sperm cells.

3. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 1, wherein said step of differentiating between said sperm cells based upon said sex differentiation characteristic comprises assessing a volume of a capsule containing said amount of DNA.

4. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 3, wherein said step of assessing said volume of said capsule containing said amount of DNA comprises determining a volume of a nucleus within said sperm cells.

5. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 3, wherein said step of assessing said volume of a capsule containing said DNA comprises determining the volume of a sperm cell head.

6. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 5, wherein said step of assessing said volume of said capsule containing said amount of DNA further comprises the steps of

a. generating a beam of electromagnetic radiation having initial wave form characteristics;

b. traversing said volume of said capsule containing said amount of DNA with said beam of electromagnetic radiation;

c. altering said initial wave form characteristics by traversing said volume of said capsule; and

d. analyzing altered wave form characteristics.

7. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 6, wherein said step of altering said initial wave form characteristics by traversing said volume of said capsule comprises shifting phase of said initial wave form of said beam of electromagnetic radiation.

8. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 6, further comprising the step of superimposing said beam of electromagnetic radiation having shifted phase on said beam of electromagnetic radiation having said initial wave form characteristics.

9. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 8, further comprising the step of comparing electromagnetic radiation intensity of superimposed beams of electromagnetic radiation with intensity of said beam of electromagnetic radiation having initial wave form characteristics.

10. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 9, further comprising the step of determining said volume of said capsule containing said amount of DNA based upon a difference in said light intensity between said superimposed beams of electromagnetic radiation and said beam of electromagnetic radiation having initial waveform characteristics.

11. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

a. introducing said sperm cells into a fluid stream;

b. analyzing said sperm cells entrained in said fluid stream;

c. forming droplets a plurality having one of said sperm cells entrained;

d. charging each of said droplets differentially based upon said sex differentiation characteristic of said sperm cells entrained in said droplets;

e. deflecting each of said droplets; and

f. differentially collecting each of said droplets based upon said sex differentiation characteristic of said sperm cells entrained in said droplets.

12. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 11, further comprising the step of maintaining said amount of DNA within said nucleus of said sperm cell unstained.

13. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 11, further comprising the step of staining said amount of DNA within said nucleus of said sperm cell.

14. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 13, further comprising the step of irradiating stained DNA within said nucleus of said sperm cell.

15. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 14, further comprising the step of detecting fluorescent light emitted from irradiated stained DNA within the nucleus of said sperm cell.

16. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 15, wherein said step of detecting fluorescent light from irradiated stained DNA within said nucleus of said sperm cell comprises generating a signal with a photomultiplier tube.

17. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 16, further comprising the step of operating said photomultiplier tube outside a typical operation voltage range.

18. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 14, wherein said step of irradiating stained DNA within the nucleus of said sperm cell further comprises generating an irradiation beam pattern having a reduced height.

19. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 18, wherein said reduced height comprises a height about equal to the length of said sperm cells along the longitudinal axis to about three times the length of said sperm cells along the longitudinal axis.

20. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 19, wherein said sperm cell has a longitudinal axis of about nine micrometers in length, and said height of said irradiation beam pattern is about 20 micrometers.

21. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 18, wherein said step of forming droplets comprises forming droplets having sufficient size to encapsulate said sperm cell.

22. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 21, further comprising the step of ejecting said fluid stream from a nozzle having an orifice, wherein said orifice has a diameter of 70 micrometers.

23. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

a. orienting said sperm cells with respect to a detector;

b. detecting light having characteristics differentially responsive to sperm cell orientation to said detector;

c. converting said light having characteristics deferentially responsive to said sperm cell orientation into at least one signal containing sperm cell orientation information; and

d. determining orientation of said sperm cell with respect to said detector.

24. a method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 23, further comprising the step of differentially collecting said droplets based upon determined orientation of said sperm cell with respect to said detector.

25. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claims 1, 6, 12, 13, 17, 18, 21, or 23, wherein said purity of said X-chromosome bearing and said Y-chromosome bearing populations of sperm cells is selected from the group consisting of between 90% to about 100%, between about 91% to about 100%, between about 92% to about 100%, between about 93% to about 100%, between about 94% to about 100%, between about 95% to about 100%, between about 96% to about 100%, between about 97% to about 100%, between about 98% to about 100%, between about 99% to about 100%.

26. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claims 1, 6, 12, 13, 17, 18, 21, or 23, further comprising the step of establishing a separable event rate from the group consisting of at least 5000 separable events per second, at least 6000 separable events per second, at least 7000 separable events per second, at least 8000 separable events per second, at least 9000 separable events per second, at least 10,000 separable events per second, at least 11,000 separable events per second, at least 12,000 separable events per second, at least 13,000 separable events per second, at least 14,000 separable events per second, at least 15,000 separable events per second, at least 16, 000 separable events per second, at least 17,000 separable events per second, at least 18,000 separable events per second, at least 19,000 separable events per second, at least 20,000 separable events per second, at least 21,000 separable events per second.

27. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claims 1, 6, 12, 13, 18, 21, or 23, wherein said step of separating said sperm cells comprises a separation rate selected from the group consisting of at least 500 separations per second, at least 1,000 separations per second, at least 2,000 separations per second, at least 3,000 separations per second, at least 4,000 separations per second, at least 5,000 separations per second, at least 6,000 separations per second, at least 7,000 separations per second, at least 8,000 separations per second, at least 9,000 separations per second, at least 10,000 separations per second.

28. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claims 1, 6, 12, 13, 18, 21, or 23, wherein said step of forming droplets each having one of said sperm cells entrained comprises a droplet formation rate selected from the group consisting of at least 10,000 droplets per second, at least 20,000 droplets per second, at least 30,000 droplets per second, at least 40,000 droplets per second, at least 50,000 droplets per second, at least 60,000 droplets per second, at least 70,000 droplets per second, at least 80,000 droplets per second, at least 90,000 droplets per second, at least 100,000 droplets per second.

29. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 1, wherein said species of mammal comprises a bovine mammal.

30. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 1, wherein said species of mammal comprises an equine mammal.

31. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 1, wherein said species of mammal comprises an ovine mammal.

32. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells, comprising:

a. sperm cells having a sperm heads, wherein said sperm heads have a difference in volume between X-chromosome bearing sperms cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells;

b. a beam of electromagnetic radiation having initial waveform characteristics differentially responsive to said difference in volume between X-chromosome bearing sperms cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells;

c. a detector responsive to altered waveform characteristics of said beam of electromagnetic radiation;

d. an analyzer coupled to said detector, wherein said analyzer differentiates between said difference in volume between said X-chromosome bearing sperms cells and said Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells based upon said altered waveform characteristics.

33. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 32, further comprising a fluid stream into which said sperm cells are introduced.

34. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 33, further comprising droplets breaking off from said fluid stream a plurality having one of said sperm cells entrained.

35. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 34, wherein said droplets breaking off from said fluid stream have sufficient size to encapsulate said one of said sperm cells.

36. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 35, further comprising a nozzle having an orifice of about 100 micrometers in diameter.

37. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 36, further comprising a droplet charger coupled to said analyzer, wherein said droplets receive a charge differentially based upon said difference in volume between X-chromosome bearing sperms cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells.

38. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 37, further comprising a droplet separator, wherein said droplet separator separates said droplet based upon charge of said droplet.

39. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 38, further comprising at least one collection container in which droplets containing said X-chromosome bearing sperm cells are collected as an X-chromosome bearing population.

40. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 38, further comprising at least one collection container in which droplets containing Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells are collected as a Y-chromosome bearing population.

41. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claims 38 or 39, wherein said X-chromosome bearing population and said Y-chromosome bearing population of said sperm cells have a purity selected from the group consisting of between 90% to about 100%, between about 91% to about 100%, between about 92% to about 100%, between about 93% to about 100%, between about 94% to about 100%, between about 95% to about 100%, between about 96% to about 100%, between about 97% to about 100%, between about 98% to about 100%, between about 99% to about 100%.

42. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 41, further comprising a separable event rate wherein said separable event rate is selected from the group consisting of at least 5000 separable events per second, at least 6000 separable events per second, at least 7000 separable events per second, at least 8000 separable events per second, at least 9000 separable events per second, at least 10,000 separable events per second, at least 11,000 separable events per second, at least 12,000 separable events per second, at least 13,000 separable events per second, at least 14,000 separable events per second, at least 15,000 separable events per second, at least 16,000 separable events per second, at least 17,000 separable events per second, at least 18,000 separable events per second, at least 19,000 separable events per second, at least 20,000 separable events per second, at least 21,000 separable events per second.

43. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 42, further comprising a separation rate selected from the group consisting of at least 500 separations per second, at least 1,000 separations per second, at least 2,000 separations per second, at least 3,000 separations per second, at least 4,000 separations per second, at least 5,000 separations per second, at least 6,000 separations per second, at least 7,000 separations per second, at least 8,000 separations per second, at least 9,000 separations per second, at least 10,000 separations per second, 11,000 separations per second.

44. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 43, further comprising a droplet formation rate selected from the group consisting of at least 10,000 droplets per second, at least 20,000 droplets per second, at least 30,000 droplets per second, at least 40,000 droplets per second, at least 50,000 droplets per second, at least 60,000 droplets per second, at least 70,000 droplets per second, at least 80,000 droplets per second, at least 90,000 droplets per second, at least 100,000 droplets per second.

45. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 44, wherein said detector comprises at least one photomultiplier tube, and wherein said at least one photomultiplier tube converts said electromagnetic radiation into at least one signal, and wherein said photomultiplier tube has a typical operation voltage range, and wherein said photomultiplier tube is operated outside said typical operation voltage range.

46. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 45, wherein said typical operation voltage range of said photomultiplier tube is from about 400 volts to about 999 volts.

47. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 46, wherein said photomultiplier tube is operated in a range from about 0 volts to about 300 volts.

48. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 41, wherein said species of mammal comprises a bovine mammal.

49. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 41, wherein said species of mammal comprises an equine mammal.

50. An apparatus to isolate X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 41, wherein said species of mammal comprises an ovine mammal.

51. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells, comprising the steps of:

a. collecting sperm cells from a male of a species of mammal;

a. assessing a volume of a capsule containing the nuclear DNA of said sperm cells;

c. differentiating between said X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and said Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells based upon said volume of said capsule containing said nuclear DNA of said sperm cells;

52. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 51, wherein said step of assessing the volume of a capsule containing said DNA comprises determining a phase shift in said electromagnetic radiation.

53. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 52, wherein said step of assessing the volume of a capsule containing said DNA comprises:

a. generating a beam electromagnetic radiation having initial waveform characteristics;

b. traversing said volume of said capsule containing said DNA with said beam of electromagnetic radiation having initial waveform characteristics;

c. altering said initial waveform characteristics by traversing said volume of said capsule; and

d. analyzing altered wave form characteristics of said beam of electromagnetic radiation.

54. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 53, wherein said step of altering said initial wave form characteristics by traversing said volume of said capsule comprises shifting phase of said initial waveform characteristics of said beam of electromagnetic radiation.

55. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 54, further comprising the step of superimposing said initial waveform characteristics and phase shifted waveform characteristics.

56. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 55, further comprising the step of comparing an intensity of said initial waveform characteristics with superimposed waveform characteristics.

57. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 56, further comprising the step of determining said volume of said capsule containing said DNA based upon the difference in said intensity between said superimposed waveform characteristics and said initial waveform characteristics.

58. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 57, further comprising the steps of:

a. introducing said sperm cells into a fluid stream;

b. forming droplets a plurality having one of said sperm cells entrained;

c. charging each of said droplets differentially based upon the assessed volume of said capsule containing the nuclear DNA of said sperm cells;

d. deflecting each of said droplets;

e. differentially collecting each of said droplets based upon said volume of said capsule containing said DNA; and

f. generating X-chromosome bearing and Y-chromosome bearing populations of said sperm cells.

59. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 58, further comprising the step of maintaining said amount of DNA within the nucleus of said sperm cells unstained.

60. a method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 59, further comprising the step of forming droplets having sufficient size to encapsulate said sperm cells.

61. a method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 60, further comprises the step of ejecting said fluid stream from a nozzle having an orifice, wherein said orifice has a diameter of 100 micrometers.

62. a method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 58, further comprises the steps of:

a. detecting a signal having sperm cell orientation characteristics;

b. comparing said signal having sperm cell orientation characteristics to a signal having oriented sperm cell characteristics;

c. determining said sperm cell has unoriented sperm cell characteristics; and

d. differentially collecting said sperm cell having unoriented sperm cell characteristics.

63. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claims 58 or 62, wherein purity of said X-chromosome bearing and said Y-chromosome bearing populations of said sperm cells is selected from the group consisting of between 90% to about 100%, between about 91% to about 100%, between about 92% to about 100%, between about 93% to about 100%, between about 94% to about 100%, between about 95% to about 100%, between about 96% to about 100%, between about 97% to about 100%, between about 98% to about 100%, between about 99% to about 100%.

64. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 63, further comprising the step of establishing a separable event rate wherein said separable event rate is selected from the group consisting of at least 5000 separable events per second, at least 6000 separable events per second, at least 7000 separable events per second, at least 8000 separable events per second, at least 9000 separable events per second, at least 10,000 separable events per second, at least 11,000 separable events per second, at least 12,000 separable events per second, at least 13,000 separable events per second, at least 14,000 separable events per second, at least 15,000 separable events per second, at least 16, 000 separable events per second, at least 17,000 separable events per second, at least 18,000 separable events per second, at least 19,000 separable events per second, at least 20,000 separable events per second, at least 21,000 separable events per second.

65. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 64, wherein said step of separating said sperm cells comprises a separation rate selected from the group consisting of at least 500 separations per second, at least 1,000 separations per second, at least 2,000 separations per second, at least 3,000 separations per second, at least 4,000 separations per second, at least 5,000 separations per second, at least 6,000 separations per second, at least 7,000 separations per second, at least 8,000 separations per second, at least 9,000 separations per second, at least 10,000 separations per second.

66. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 65, wherein said step of forming droplets each having one of said sperm cells entrained comprises a droplet formation rate selected from the group consisting of at least 10,000 droplets per second, at least 20,000 droplets per second, at least 30,000 droplets per second, at least 40,000 droplets per second, at least 50,000 droplets per second, at least 60,000 droplets per second, at least 70,000 droplets per second, at least 80,000 droplets per second, at least 90,000 droplets per second, at least 100,000 droplets per second.

67. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 51, wherein said species of mammal comprises a bovine mammal.

68. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 51, wherein said species of mammal comprises an equine mammal.

69. A method of isolating X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells as described in claim 51, wherein said species of mammal comprises an ovine mammal.

70. A method differentiating particles, comprising the steps of:

a. collecting asymmetric particles;

b. establishing said fluid stream with a flow cytometer;

c. introducing said asymmetric particles into said fluid stream;

d. orienting said asymmetric particles with respect to a detector;

e. detecting light having characteristics differentially responsive to asymmetric particle orientation to said detector;

g. converting said light having characteristics differentially responsive to asymmetric particle orientation into at least one signal containing asymmetric particle orientation information;

h. analyzing asymmetric particle orientation information; and

i. determining orientation of said asymmetric particles with respect to said detector.

71. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 70, wherein said fluid stream comprises a sheath fluid

72. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 70, wherein said detector comprises a photomultiplier tube.

73. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 72, wherein said light comprises florescent light.

74. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 73, wherein said florescent light emits from a light emission material bound to said asymmetric particles.

75. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 70, wherein said step of analyzing asymmetric particle orientation information comprises the steps of:

a. plotting electronic signal over a period of time;

b. integrating the areas of plots corresponding to said electronic signal; and

c. comparing integrations of said plots to integrations of oriented asymmetric particles.

76. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 70, further comprising differentially collecting said asymmetric particles based upon determined orientation of said asymmetric particles with respect to said detector.

77. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 70, wherein said asymmetric particles are sperm cells from a male of a species of mammal.

78. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 70, further comprising the steps of:

a. assessing the volume of a capsule containing the nuclear DNA of said sperm cells; and

b. differentiating between said X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and said Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells based upon the volume of said capsule containing the nuclear DNA of said sperm cell.

79. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 78, wherein said capsule containing said DNA comprises a sperm head.

80. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 78, wherein said step of assessing the volume of a capsule containing said DNA comprises:

a. generating a beam of electromagnetic radiation having initial waveform characteristics;

b. traversing said volume of said capsule containing said DNA with said beam of electromagnetic radiation having initial waveform characteristics;

c. altering said initial wave form characteristics of said beam of electromagnetic radiation by traversing said volume of said capsule; and

d. analyzing altered wave form characteristics.

81. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 80, wherein said step of altering said wave form characteristics by traversing said volume of said capsule comprises shifting phase of said initial waveform characteristics.

82. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 81, further comprising the step of superimposing said initial waveform characteristics and said phase shifted waveform characteristics.

83. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 82, further comprising the step of comparing a intensity of said initial waveform characteristics and superimposed waveform characteristics.

84. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 83, further comprising the step of determining said volume of said capsule containing said DNA based upon the difference in said intensity.

85. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 80, further comprising the steps of:

a. forming droplets a plurality having one of said sperm cells entrained;

b. charging each of said droplets differentially based upon the determined volume of said capsule containing the nuclear DNA of said sperm cells;

c. deflecting each of said droplets; and

d. collecting each of said droplets based upon charge of said droplet; and

e. generating X-chromosome bearing and Y-chromosome bearing populations of said sperm cells.

86. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 77, further comprising the steps of:

a. forming droplets a plurality having one of said sperm cells entrained;

b. charging each of said droplets differentially based upon an amount of nuclear DNA of said sperm cells;

c. deflecting each of said droplets;

d. collecting each of said droplets based upon charge of said droplet; and

e. generating X-chromosome bearing and Y-chromosome bearing populations of said sperm cells.

87. A method differentiating particles as described in claims 85 or 86, wherein said step of forming droplets a plurality having one of said sperm cells entrained comprises forming droplets having sufficient size to encapsulate said sperm cell, wherein said sperm cell comprises an intact live sperm cell having a tail.

88. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 87, further comprises the step of ejecting said fluid stream from a nozzle having an orifice, wherein said orifice has a diameter of 100 micrometers.

89. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 88, wherein said X-chromosome bearing and said Y-chromosome bearing populations of sperm cells have a purity selected from the group consisting of between 90% to about 100%, between about 91% to about 100%, between about 92% to about 100%, between about 93% to about 100%, between about 94% to about 100%, between about 95% to about 100%, between about 96% to about 100%, between about 97% to about 100%, between about 98% to about 100%, between about 99% to about 100%.

90. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 88, further comprising the step of establishing a separable event rate wherein said separable event rate is selected from the group consisting of at least 5000 separable events per second, at least 6000 separable events per second, at least 7000 separable events per second, at least 8000 separable events per second, at least 9000 separable events per second, at least 10,000 separable events per second, at least 11,000 separable events per second, at least 12,000 separable events per second, at least 13,000 separable events per second, at least 14,000 separable events per second, at least 15,000 separable events per second, at least 16, 000 separable events per second, at least 17,000 separable events per second, at least 18,000 separable events per second, at least 19,000 separable events per second, at least 20,000 separable events per second, at least 21,000 separable events per second.

91. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 88, wherein said step of separating said sperm cells comprises a separation rate selected from the group consisting of at least 500 separations per second, at least 1,000 separations per second, at least 2,000 separations per second, at least 3,000 separations per second, at least 4,000 separations per second, at least 5,000 separations per second, at least 6,000 separations per second, at least 7,000 separations per second, at least 8,000 separations per second, at least 9,000 separations per second, at least 10,000 separations per second.

92. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 88, wherein said step of forming droplets each having one of said sperm cells entrained comprises a droplet formation rate selected from the group consisting of at least 10,000 droplets per second, at least 20,000 droplets per second, at least 30,000 droplets per second, at least 40,000 droplets per second, at least 50,000 droplets per second, at least 60,000 droplets per second, at least 70,000 droplets per second, at least 80,000 droplets per second, at least 90,000 droplets per second, at least 100,000 droplets per second.

93. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 77, wherein said species of mammal comprises a bovine mammal.

94. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 77, wherein said species of mammal comprises an equine mammal.

95. A method differentiating particles as described in claim 77, wherein said species of mammal comprises an ovine mammal.

96. A particle differentiation apparatus, comprising:

a. at least one asymmetric particle having orientation characteristics within a fluid stream;

b. a irradiation source generating an irradiation beam responsive to said asymmetric particle;

c. optics to focus said irradiation beam;

d. a light emission material coupled to said asymmetric particle, wherein said light emission material emits light in response to said irradiation beam;

e. a detector deferentially responsive to said light emitted from said light emission material based upon said particle orientation characteristics; and

f. an analyzer coupled to said detector, wherein said analyzer differentiates said asymmetric particles based upon orientation within said fluid stream.

97. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 96, wherein said at least one asymmetrical particle comprise at least one sperm cell.

98. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 96, wherein said optics focus a beam pattern having a height of about equal to the length of said asymmetrical particle along the longitudinal axis to about three times the length of said asymmetrical particle along the longitudinal axis;

99. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 98, wherein said at least one sperm cell has a head having a length along the longitudinal axis of about nine micrometers, and wherein said irradiation pattern has a height of about 20 micrometers.

100. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 96, wherein said at least one asymmetric particle having orientation characteristics further comprises at least one particle differentiation characteristic.

101. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 96, wherein said light emission material bound to said at least one asymmetric particle comprises a stain bound to nuclear DNA of sperm cells of a male of a species of mammal.

102. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 101, wherein said particle differentiation characteristic comprises a difference in amount of said stain bound to said nuclear DNA of X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and said nuclear DNA of Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells.

103. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 96, wherein said detector comprises at least one photomultiplier tube, and wherein said photomultiplier tube has a typical operation voltage range, and wherein said photomultiplier tube is operated outside said typical operation voltage range.

104. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 103, wherein said typical operation voltage range of said photomultiplier tube is from about 400 volts to about 999 volts.

105. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 104, wherein said photomultiplier tube is operated in a range from about 0 volts to about 300 volts.

106. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 96, further comprising droplets breaking off from said fluid stream a plurality having at least one of said asymmetric particles entrained.

107. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 106, wherein said droplets breaking off from said fluid stream have sufficient size to encapsulate one of said sperm cells, wherein said sperm cells comprise intact live sperm cells having a tail.

108. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 107, further comprising a nozzle having an orifice of about 100 micrometers in diameter.

109. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 106, further comprising a droplet charger coupled to said analyzer, wherein said droplets receive a charge differentially based upon said difference in amount of said stain bound the nuclear DNA of X-chromosome sperm cells and the nuclear DNA of Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells.

110. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 109, further comprising a droplet charger coupled to said analyzer, wherein said droplets receive a charge differentially based upon said difference in volume of said particles, and wherein said difference in volume of said particles comprises a difference between X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromsome bearing sperm cells

111. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 110, further comprising a droplet separator, wherein said droplet separator separates said droplet based upon charge of said droplet.

112. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 111, further comprising at least one collection container in which droplets containing said X-chromosome bearing sperm cells are collected as an X-chromosome bearing population.

113. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 111, further comprising at least one collection container in which droplets containing Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells are collected as a Y-chromosome bearing population.

114. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 112 or 113, wherein said X-chromosome bearing population and said Y-chromosome bearing population of said sperm cells are selected from the group consisting of between 90% to about 100%, between about 91% to about 100%, between about 92% to about 100%, between about 93% to about 100%, between about 94% to about 100%, between about 95% to about 100%, between about 96% to about 100%, between about 97% to about 100%, between about 98% to about 100%, between about 99% to about 100%.

115. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 114, further comprising the step of establishing a separable event rate wherein said separable event rate is selected from the group consisting of at least 5000 separable events per second, at least 6000 separable events per second, at least 7000 separable events per second, at least 8000 separable events per second, at least 9000 separable events per second, at least 10,000 separable events per second, at least 11,000 separable events per second, at least 12,000 separable events per second, at least 13,000 separable events per second, at least 14,000 separable events per second, at least 15,000 separable events per second, at least 16, 000 separable events per second, at least 17,000 separable events per second, at least 18,000 separable events per second, at least 19,000 separable events per second, at least 20,000 separable events per second, at least 21,000 separable events per second.

116. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 115, wherein said step of separating said sperm cells comprises a separation rate selected from the group consisting of at least 500 separations per second, at least 1,000 separations per second, at least 2,000 separations per second, at least 3,000 separations per second, at least 4,000 separations per second, at least 5,000 separations per second, at least 6,000 separations per second, at least 7,000 separations per second, at least 8,000 separations per second, at least 9,000 separations per second, at least 10,000 separations per second, 11,000 separations per second.

117. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 116, wherein said step of forming droplets each having one of said sperm cells entrained comprises a droplet formation rate selected from the group consisting of at least 10,000 droplets per second, at least 20,000 droplets per second, at least 30,000 droplets per second, at least 40,000 droplets per second, at least 50,000 droplets per second, at least 60,000 droplets per second, at least 70,000 droplets per second, at least 80,000 droplets per second, at least 90,000 droplets per second, at least 100,000 droplets per second.

118. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 102, wherein said species of mammal comprises a bovine mammal.

119. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 102, wherein said species of mammal comprises an equine mammal.

120. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 102, wherein said species of mammal comprises an ovine mammal.

121. A particle differentiation apparatus, comprising:

a. a fluid stream;

b. intact live sperm cells introduced into said fluid stream;

c. a nozzle having a orifice through which said fluid stream exits;

d. an oscillator responsive to said fluid stream; and

e. droplets breaking off from said fluid stream, wherein a plurality of said droplets entrain said intact live sperm cells, and wherein said droplets have sufficient size to encapsulate one of said live sperm cells.

122. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 121, wherein said orifice has a diameter of 100 micrometers.

123. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 122, wherein said droplets breaking off from said fluid stream break off at a rate selected from the group consisting of at least 10,000 droplets per second, at least 20,000 droplets per second, at least 30,000 droplets per second, at least 40,000 droplets per second, at least 50,000 droplets per second, at least 60,000 droplets per second, at least 70,000 droplets per second, at least 80,000 droplets per second, at least 90,000 droplets per second, at least 100,000 droplets per second.

124. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 123, further comprising a light emission source generating light.

125. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 124, further comprising a detector responsive to said light.

126. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 125, wherein said intact live sperm cells have at least one sex differentiation characteristic.

127. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 126, wherein said at least one sex differentiation characteristic comprises a volume difference of sperm cell heads of said intact live sperm cells.

128. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 127, wherein said light emission source emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation, and wherein said beam of electromagnetic radiation traverses said volume of said sperm cell heads, and wherein said beam of electromagnetic radiation has initial waveform characteristics differentially responsive to said difference in volume of said sperm cell heads.

129. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 128, further comprising an analyzer responsive to said detector, wherein said analyzer differentiates between said intact live sperm cells based upon said volume difference of said sperm cell heads.

130. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 129, wherein said volume difference of said sperm cell heads in volume comprises a difference between X-chromosome bearing live intact sperm cells and Y-chromsome bearing live intact sperm cells.

131. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 126, an irradiation source generating an irradiation beam responsive to said intact live sperm cells.

132. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 131, further comprising optics, wherein said optics focus an irradiation beam pattern having a height equal to about the length of said sperm heads along the longitudinal axis to about three times the length of said sperm head of saids along the longitudinal axis.

133. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 132, wherein said sperm heads have a length along the longitudinal axis of about nine micrometers, and wherein said irradiation pattern has a height of about 20 micrometers.

134. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 131, wherein said at least one sex differentiation characteristic comprises a difference in amount of nuclear DNA of said intact live sperm cells, and wherein said light emission source comprises a light emission material bound to nuclear DNA, and wherein said light emission material emits light differentially based upon said difference in amount of said nuclear DNA, and wherein and wherein said detector generates at least one signal in response to said light.

135. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 134, further comprising an analyzer responsive to said detector, wherein said analyzer differentiates between said at least one intact live sperm cell based upon said difference in amount of nuclear DNA.

136. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 135, wherein said difference in said amount of said nuclear DNA comprises a difference between X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells.

137. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claims 136, further comprising a droplet charger coupled to said analyzer, wherein said droplet charger generates a charge on said droplets differentially based upon said difference in amount of said nuclear DNA.

138. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 129, further comprising a droplet charger coupled to said analyzer, wherein said droplet charger generates a charge on said droplets differentially based upon said volume difference of said sperm cell heads, and wherein said volume difference of said sperm cell heads comprises a difference between X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromsome bearing sperm cells.

139. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claims 137 or 138, further comprising a droplet separator, wherein said droplet separator separates said droplets based upon charge of said droplets.

140. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 139, further comprising at least one collection container in which droplets containing said X-chromosome bearing sperm cells are collected as an X-chromosome bearing population.

141. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 139, further comprising at least one collection container in which droplets containing Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells are collected as a Y-chromosome bearing population.

142. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 125, wherein said detector comprises at least one photomultiplier tube, and wherein said at least one photomultiplier tube converts light from said light emission source into at least one signal, and wherein said photomultiplier tube has a typical operation voltage range, and wherein said photomultiplier tube is operated outside said typical operation voltage range.

143. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 142, wherein said typical operation voltage range of said photomultiplier tube is from about 400 volts to about 999 volts.

144. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 143, wherein said photomultiplier tube is operated in a range from about 0 volts to about 300 volts.

145. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claims 140 or 141, wherein said X-chromosome bearing population and said Y-chromosome bearing population of said sperm cells have a purity selected from the group consisting of between 90% to about 100%, between about 91% to about 100%, between about 92% to about 100%, between about 93% to about 100%, between about 94% to about 100%, between about 95% to about 100%, between about 96% to about 100%, between about 97% to about 100%, between about 98% to about 100%, between about 99% to about 100%.

146. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 145, further comprising the step of establishing a separable event rate wherein said separable event rate is selected from the group consisting of at least 5000 separable events per second, at least 6000 separable events per second, at least 7000 separable events per second, at least 8000 separable events per second, at least 9000 separable events per second, at least 10,000 separable events per second, at least 11,000 separable events per second, at least 12,000 separable events per second, at least 13,000 separable events per second, at least 14,000 separable events per second, at least 15,000 separable events per second, at least 16, 000 separable events per second, at least 17,000 separable events per second, at least 18,000 separable events per second, at least 19,000 separable events per second, at least 20,000 separable events per second, at least 21,000 separable events per second.

147. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 146, wherein said step of separating said sperm cells comprises a separation rate selected from the group consisting of at least 500 separations per second, at least 1,000 separations per second, at least 2,000 separations per second, at least 3,000 separations per second, at least 4,000 separations per second, at least 5,000 separations per second, at least 6,000 separations per second, at least 7,000 separations per second, at least 8,000 separations per second, at least 9,000 separations per second, at least 10,000 separations per second, 11,000 separations per second.

148. A particle differentiation apparatus, comprising:

a. particles having at least one particle differentiation characteristic;

b. a light emission source differentially responsive to said particle differentiation characteristics;

c. at least one photomultiplier tube, wherein said at least one photomultiplier tube converts light from said light emission source into at least one signal, and wherein said photomultiplier tube has a typical operation voltage range, and wherein said photomultiplier tube is operated outside said typical operation voltage range; and

d. an analyzer responsive to said at least one signal which differentiates particles based upon said particle differentiation characteristics.

149. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 148, wherein said typical operation voltage range of said photomultiplier tube is from about 400 volts to about 999 volts.

150. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 149, wherein said photomultiplier tube is operated in a range from about 0 volts to about 300 volts.

151. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 148, further comprising a irradiation source generating an irradiation beam responsive to said particles.

152. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 151, wherein said light emission source comprises a light emission material bound to said particles which emits said light in response to said irradiation beam.

153. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 152, wherein said light emission material bound to said particles comprises a stain bound to the nuclear DNA of sperm cells.

154. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 153, wherein said particle differentiation characteristic comprises a difference in amount of said stain bound the nuclear DNA of X-chromosome sperm cells and the nuclear DNA of Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells.

155. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 152, wherein said particle comprises an asymmetric particle.

156. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 155, further comprising optics to focus said irradiation beam responsive to said particle, wherein said optics focus a irradiation pattern having a height of about equal to the length of said asymmetrical particle along the longitudinal axis to about three times the length of said asymmetrical particle along the longitudinal axis.

157. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 156, further comprising a fluid stream into which said particles are introduced.

158. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 157, wherein said at least one particle differentiation characteristic comprises orientation of said asymmetric particle within said fluid stream, and wherein said photomultiplier tube is deferentially responsive to said light emitted from said light emission material based upon said particle orientation characteristics, and wherein said analyzer coupled to said photomultiplier tube differentiates between said asymmetric particles based upon orientation within said fluid stream.

159. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 158, wherein said asymmetrical particles comprise sperm cells having sperm cell heads.

160. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 159, wherein said sperm cell heads of said sperm cell have a length along the longitudinal axis of about nine micrometers, and wherein said irradiation pattern has a height of about 20 micrometers.

161. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 148, wherein said particles have a volume, and wherein said at least one particle differentiation characteristic comprises a volume difference of said particles.

162. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 161, wherein said light emission source emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation, and wherein said beam of electromagnetic radiation traverses said volume of said particle, and wherein said beam of electromagnetic radiation has initial waveform characteristics altered by said volume of said particles.

163. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 162, wherein said photomultiplier tube is responsive to said waveform characteristics altered by said volume of said particles.

164. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 163, wherein said analyzer responsive to said at least one signal which differentiates particles based upon said particle differentiation characteristics differentiates between said particles based upon said difference in volume.

165. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 164, wherein said volume difference comprises a difference between X-chromosome bearing and Y-chromsome bearing sperm cells.

166. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 160, further comprising droplets breaking off from said fluid stream a plurality having one of said sperm cells entrained.

167. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 165, further comprising droplets breaking off from said fluid stream a plurality having one of said sperm cells entrained.

168. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 166, wherein said droplets breaking off from said fluid stream have sufficient size to encapsulate said one of said sperm cells.

169. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 168, further comprising a nozzle having an orifice of about 100 micrometers in diameter.

170. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 166, further comprising a droplet charger coupled to said analyzer, wherein said droplets receive a charge differentially based upon said difference in amount of said stain bound the nuclear DNA of X-chromosome sperm cells and the nuclear DNA of Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells.

171. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 167, further comprising a droplet charger coupled to said analyzer, wherein said droplets receive a charge differentially based upon said volume difference of said sperm cell heads, and wherein said difference in volume of said sperm cell heads comprise a difference between X-chromosome bearing sperm cells and Y-chromsome bearing sperm cells

172. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 170, further comprising a droplet separator, wherein said droplet separator separates said droplet based upon charge of said droplet.

173. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 171, further comprising a droplet separator, wherein said droplet separator separates said droplet based upon charge of said droplet.

174. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 172, further comprising collection containers responsive to said droplet separator, wherein X-chromosome bearing sperm cell and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cell populations are collected.

175. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 173, further comprising collection containers responsive to said droplet separator, wherein X-chromosome bearing sperm cell and Y-chromosome bearing sperm cell populations are collected.

176. An apparatus for differentiating particles as described in claims 174 or 175, wherein said X-chromosome bearing sperm cell population and said Y-chromosome bearing population of said sperm cells are selected from the group consisting of between 90% to about 100%, between about 91% to about 100%, between about 92% to about 100%, between about 93% to about 100%, between about 94% to about 100%, between about 95% to about 100%, between about 96% to about 100%, between about 97% to about 100%, between about 98% to about 100%, between about 99% to about 100%.

177. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 176, further comprising the step of establishing a separable event rate wherein said separable event rate is selected from the group consisting of at least 5000 separable events per second, at least 6000 separable events per second, at least 7000 separable events per second, at least 8000 separable events per second, at least 9000 separable events per second, at least 10,000 separable events per second, at least 11,000 separable events per second, at least 12,000 separable events per second, at least 13,000 separable events per second, at least 14,000 separable events per second, at least 15,000 separable events per second, at least 16, 000 separable events per second, at least 17,000 separable events per second, at least 18,000 separable events per second, at least 19,000 separable events per second, at least 20,000 separable events per second, at least 21,000 separable events per second.

178. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 177, wherein said step of separating said sperm cells comprises a separation rate selected from the group consisting of at least 500 separations per second, at least 1,000 separations per second, at least 2,000 separations per second, at least 3,000 separations per second, at least 4,000 separations per second, at least 5,000 separations per second, at least 6,000 separations per second, at least 7,000 separations per second, at least 8,000 separations per second, at least 9,000 separations per second, at least 10,000 separations per second, 11,000 separations per second.

179. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 178, wherein said step of forming droplets each having one of said sperm cells entrained comprises a droplet formation rate selected from the group consisting of at least 10,000 droplets per second, at least 20,000 droplets per second, at least 30,000 droplets per second, at least 40,000 droplets per second, at least 50,000 droplets per second, at least 60,000 droplets per second, at least 70,000 droplets per second, at least 80,000 droplets per second, at least 90,000 droplets per second, at least 100,000 droplets per second.

180. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 179, wherein said sperm cells comprise sperm cells from a bovine mammal.

181. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 179, wherein said sperm cells comprise sperm cells from an equine mammal.

182. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 179, wherein said sperm cells comprise sperm cells from an ovine mammal.

183. A particle differentiation apparatus, comprising:

a. asymmetric particles;

b. an irradiation source generating an irradiation beam responsive to said asymmetric particles;

c. optics to focus said irradiation beam responsive to said asymmetrical particles, wherein said optics focus a beam pattern having a height of about equal to the length of said asymmetrical particles along the longitudinal axis to about three times the length of said asymmetrical particles along the longitudinal axis;

d. a light emission material coupled to said asymmetric particles, wherein said light emission material emits light in response to said irradiation beam;

e. a detector responsive to said light.

184. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 183, wherein said at least one asymmetrical particle comprise at least one sperm cell.

185. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 184, wherein said at least one sperm cell has a head having a length along the longitudinal axis of about nine micrometers, and wherein said irradiation pattern has a height of about 20 micrometers.

186. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 183, wherein said at least one asymmetric particle has at least one particle differentiation characteristic.

187. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 186, further comprising a fluid stream.

188. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 187, wherein said at least one particle differentiation characteristic comprises orientation of said asymmetric particle within said fluid stream, and wherein said detector is deferentially responsive to said light emitted from said light emission material based upon said particle orientation characteristics.

189. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 188, further comprising an analyzer coupled to said detector.

190. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 189, wherein said analyzer differentiates between said asymmetric particles based upon said orientation of said asymmetric particle within said fluid stream.

191. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 190, wherein said light emission material bound to said at least one asymmetric particle comprises a stain bound to the nuclear DNA of sperm cells.

192. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 191, wherein said particle differentiation characteristic comprises a difference in amount of said stain bound the nuclear DNA of X-chromosome sperm cells and the nuclear DNA of Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells.

193. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 192, wherein said detector comprises at least one photomultiplier tube, and wherein said photomultiplier tube has a typical operation voltage range, and wherein said photomultiplier tube is operated outside said typical operation voltage range.

194. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 193, wherein said typical operation voltage range of said photomultiplier tube is from about 400 volts to about 999 volts.

195. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 194, wherein said photomultiplier tube is operated in a range from about 0 volts to about 300 volts.

196. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 193, further comprising droplets breaking off from said fluid stream each having one of said particles entrained.

197. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 196, wherein said droplets breaking off from said fluid stream have sufficient size to encapsulate said one of said sperm cells, wherein said sperm cells comprise intact live sperm cells having at least a head and a neck and a tail.

198. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 197, further comprising a nozzle having an orifice of about 100 micrometers in diameter.

199. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 196, further comprising a droplet charger coupled to said analyzer, wherein said droplets receive a charge differentially based upon said difference in amount of said stain bound the nuclear DNA of X-chromosome sperm cells and the nuclear DNA of Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells.

200. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 199, further comprising a droplet separator, wherein said droplet separator separates said droplet based upon charge of said droplet.

201. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 200, further comprising at least one collection container in which droplets containing said X-chromosome bearing sperm cells are collected as an X-chromosome bearing population.

202. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 200, further comprising at least one collection container in which droplets containing Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells are collected as a Y-chromosome bearing population.

203. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claims 201 or 202, wherein said X-chromosome bearing population and said Y-chromosome bearing population of said sperm cells are selected from the group consisting of between 90% to about 100%, between about 91% to about 100%, between about 92% to about 100%, between about 93% to about 100%, between about 94% to about 100%, between about 95% to about 100%, between about 96% to about 100%, between about 97% to about 100%, between about 98% to about 100%, between about 99% to about 100%.

204. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 203, further comprising the step of establishing a separable event rate wherein said separable event rate is selected from the group consisting of at least 5000 separable events per second, at least 6000 separable events per second, at least 7000 separable events per second, at least 8000 separable events per second, at least 9000 separable events per second, at least 10,000 separable events per second, at least 11,000 separable events per second, at least 12,000 separable events per second, at least 13,000 separable events per second, at least 14,000 separable events per second, at least 15,000 separable events per second, at least 16, 000 separable events per second, at least 17,000 separable events per second, at least 18,000 separable events per second, at least 19,000 separable events per second, at least 20,000 separable events per second, at least 21,000 separable events per second.

205. An apparatus for differentiating particles as described in claim 204, wherein said step of separating said sperm cells comprises a separation rate selected from the group consisting of at least 500 separations per second, at least 1,000 separations per second, at least 2,000 separations per second, at least 3,000 separations per second, at least 4,000 separations per second, at least 5,000 separations per second, at least 6,000 separations per second, at least 7,000 separations per second, at least 8,000 separations per second, at least 9,000 separations per second, at least 10,000 separations per second, 11,000 separations per second.

206. An apparatus for differentiating particles as described in claim 205, wherein said step of forming droplets each having one of said sperm cells entrained comprises a droplet formation rate selected from the group consisting of at least 10,000 droplets per second, at least 20,000 droplets per second, at least 30,000 droplets per second, at least 40,000 droplets per second, at least 50,000 droplets per second, at least 60,000 droplets per second, at least 70,000 droplets per second, at least 80,000 droplets per second, at least 90,000 droplets per second, at least 100,000 droplets per second.

207. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 206, wherein said sperm cells comprise a bovine sperm cells.

208. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 206, wherein said sperm cells comprise sperm cells from an equine mammal.

209. A particle differentiation apparatus as described in claim 206, wherein said sperm cells comprise sperm cells from an ovine mammal.