The early development of procedures with animals to transfer an embryo into the uterus of an animal which was not its parent gave rise to much controversy. Since the birth of the first embryo transfer baby, many questions have been raised about the ethics, legality and marketability of the new technology, so hindering further development.
Experts estimate that as many as three million couples in the USA are unable to conceive after a year of trying. The majority could be helped by in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination, but embryo transfer may be the only hope for women with damaged ovaries or genetic diseases.