the process of uniting two human germ cells (sperm
and egg) outside the human body and in an artificial environment;
term often includes the process of embryo transfer;
first successful human birth using this technique took place
in England 1978; the process itself and related techniques
--such as the freezing of eggs, sperm, or embryos for future
Implantation have raised ethical questions, including the
fear of experimentation with human fetuses