SSC Stenographer 2026 PYQ — Question 15

Solution: The correct answer is To assist fertilization outside the body and implant the embryo.

Explanation:
☛ In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) where fertilization occurs outside the human body in a controlled laboratory environment.
☛ In this procedure, mature eggs (ova) are retrieved from a woman's ovaries and combined with sperm in a specialized laboratory dish.
☛ Once fertilization occurs, the resulting fertilized egg develops into an embryo over several days.
☛ One or more healthy embryos are then transferred directly into the woman's uterus, aiming for successful implantation and pregnancy.

Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ The Latin term "In Vitro" literally means "in glass", referring to biological processes carried out in laboratory glassware such as test tubes or petri dishes.
☛ The world's first successful IVF baby, Louise Joy Brown, was born in the United Kingdom in July 1978, developed by Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards.
☛ India's first test-tube baby, named Kanupriya Agarwal (Durga), was born in Kolkata in October 1978 through the pioneering work of Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay.
☛ ZIFT (Zygote Intra-Fallopian Transfer): An ART technique where the fertilized zygote (up to 8 blastomeres) is placed directly into the fallopian tube.
☛ ICSI (Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection): A specialized form of IVF where a single sperm is injected directly into the cytoplasm of a mature egg.

Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Who was the world's first baby born through IVF? → Louise Joy Brown (1978)
☛ Which Indian doctor created India's first test-tube baby? → Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay
☛ What is the literal Latin meaning of the phrase 'In Vitro'? → In glass
☛ In which Assisted Reproductive Technology is a single sperm directly injected into an egg? → ICSI (Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection)
☛ Where does natural fertilization typically take place in the human female body? → Ampulla of the Fallopian Tube