Method of cryopreserving selected sperm cells
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method of freezing separated sperm cells, comprising the steps of:
- a. obtaining sperm cells from a male of a species of non-human mammal;
b. differentiating said sperm cells based upon at least one property which allows a portion of said sperm cells to be identified as bearing either an X-chromosome or a Y-chromosome;
c. separating said sperm cells into a discrete population based upon said at least one property;
d. establishing from said discrete population a selected sperm sample having a sufficient number of sperm cells to fertilize an egg of a female of said species of non-human mammal;
e. freezing said selected sperm sample.
6 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method of cryopreserving sperm that have been selected for a specific characteristic. In a preferred embodiment, the method is employed to freeze sex-selected sperm. Although the cryopreservation method of the invention can be used to freeze sperm selected by any number of selection methods, selection using flow cytometry is preferred. The present invention also provides a frozen sperm sample that has been selected for a particular characteristic, such as sex-type. In preferred embodiments, the frozen sperm sample includes mammalian sperm, such as, for example, human, bovine, equine, porcine, ovine, elk, or bison sperm. The frozen selected sperm sample can be used in a variety of applications. In particular, the sample can be thawed and used for fertilization. Accordingly, the invention also includes a method of using the frozen selected sperm sample for artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization.
-
Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A method of freezing separated sperm cells, comprising the steps of:
-
a. obtaining sperm cells from a male of a species of non-human mammal; b. differentiating said sperm cells based upon at least one property which allows a portion of said sperm cells to be identified as bearing either an X-chromosome or a Y-chromosome; c. separating said sperm cells into a discrete population based upon said at least one property; d. establishing from said discrete population a selected sperm sample having a sufficient number of sperm cells to fertilize an egg of a female of said species of non-human mammal; e. freezing said selected sperm sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
Specification