Males No Longer Needed For Reproduction?

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Scientists in Newcastle, UK have figured out how to create sperm cells from human embryos. The researchers believe the work could eventually help men with fertility problems to conceive, though they think it will be at least 5 years before the technique is perfected. Other experts say they are not convinced that fully developed sperm have been created. Full details and video on BBC News

How they did it:
They began with stem cell lines derived from human embryos donated following IVF treatment. The stem cells had been removed when the embryo was a few days old and were stored in tanks of liquid nitrogen. The stem cells were brought to body temperature and put in a chemical mixture to encourage them to grow. They were “tagged” with a genetic marker which enabled the scientists to identify and separate so-called “germline” stem cells from which eggs and sperm are developed. The male, XY stem cells underwent the crucial process of “meiosis” – halving the number of chromosomes. The process over creating and developing the sperm took four to six weeks. The Newcastle team say the sperm were fully mature, mobile sperm and they have produced a video to back up the research.

“This understanding could help us develop new ways to help couples suffering infertility so they can have a child which is genetically their own.”

Reminds me of that episode of Star Trek about the planet of women that figured out how to reproduce without men. I often wondered if that would ever be a possibility in my lifetime. But at the cost of extracting them out of a fertilised egg, a developing embryo – this will likely be a topic of huge debate for decades.

This entry was posted by } bird { on Wednesday, July 8th, 2009 at 5:33 am and is filed under blogalog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Comments

Tara Weatherburn says:

July 8, 2009 at 6:10 am

Its all getting a bit weird for me… at least newcastle might be famous for something other than drinking lol

Morgan Moore says:

July 8, 2009 at 9:52 am

I knew we'd find a way to make them obsolete…

Dan Foley says:

July 8, 2009 at 12:32 pm

so do they make sure that you just have girls only?

Olivia Meiring says:

July 8, 2009 at 4:19 pm

haha Tara! Morgan, its unladylike to gloat :PDan, I'm not sure what women will decide in the future. My guess is as long as men are a fun time just for fun having you're safe *wink*

Tara Weatherburn says:

July 8, 2009 at 4:29 pm

we could just keep them locked up and let them out for good behaviour oh and chores.. mwahahaha *evil laugh*

Olivia Meiring says:

July 11, 2009 at 1:22 am

Oh Tara, how could you forget their most important task to us?

Tara Weatherburn says:

July 11, 2009 at 5:59 am

Sorry ironing is included under the chores category lol cant think of anything else?? diy? mowing the lawn? i pass tell me…

Olivia Meiring says:

July 13, 2009 at 3:55 pm

haha well… you know, I don't think I'm going to spoil the surprise. Its a big one!