Once unimagined parents could choose the sex of the child she is carrying? Now with genetic engineering allows parents choosing the sex of their children with more accurate techniques than before.

A technique called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (pre-implantation genetic diagnosis / PGD) was originally developed over two decades ago to determine whether the conceived embryo has a genetic disease. This allows for parents who do in vitro fertilization (IVF) eggs are fertilized outside the womb.

By using the PGD technique, the embryo will be tested to see a genetic disorder or not and only free from diseases that will be transferred to the womb. This means that parents who carry certain genetic defects do not pass this test. But this technique also allows people to choose the sex of embryos implanted in her mother's womb.

Until now, the new PGD technique legalized in the U.S. alone, while some other countries actually forbid. In the U.S. alone to be subjected to this procedure costs around U.S. $ 18,000 (USD 180 million with the exchange 10.000/US $) and are included in vitro fertilization.

"Most of our clients are from the United States already has one child and trying to achieve a balance of families, while nearly 70 percent of my patients come from countries that prohibit this technique," said Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg of a fertility expert from Los Angeles, as quoted from CNN.

However, this technique does not mean free from controversy. Because many critics who argue it could lead to gender imbalance, especially in traditional societies which have a tendency to have a son.

"As China is supporting the boys as well as with India. But when you see the world in general, that ratio was 50:50," said Dr. Mark Hughes, a pioneer of PGD. Further, Mark has more concern for many purposes other non-medical.

Meskipun teknologi ini sudah tersebar luas, tapi tetap saja hal ini menimbulkan kontroversi bagi beberapa kalangan. Although this technology is widespread, but still it caused controversy for some circles. Sebagian merasa teknik ini seperti mempermainkan Tuhan sementara yang lainnya justru menyambut baik teknik ini agar memiliki lebih banyak pilihan dalam merencanakan keluarganya. Some feel the technique is like playing God while others actually welcome this technique in order to have more choice in family planning.