Since, here at the Faculty Lounge, we never bypass an
opportunity to publicly discuss sperm (see, e.g. Live
Sperm, Dead Donor and More
Live Sperm, Dead Donor) I bring you news that scientists have created human
sperm from embryonic stem cells for the first time. From The
Financial Times:
Karim Nayernia, project leader, said
the “in vitro designed” sperm produced in his laboratory looked fully mobile
and functional under the microscope, though more research would be needed
before IVD sperm were used to fertilise human eggs. The work might lead to a
fertility treatment in five to 10 years, he said.
The research was carried out at Newcastle University, where
Professor Nayernia moved from Germany in 2006. Germany
has quite restrictive laws on fertility treatments and bans embryo research. (Subscription required).
Nayernia’s early research led to fears in some quarters of
“an end to men,” that would enable women (and
lesbians, in particular) to produce biological offspring without male
involvement. But, says Nayernia,
this misunderstands the research.
“IVD sperm can only be produced from stem cells with male [XY] chromosomes,”
Nayernia told the Financial
Times. “Stem cells with female [XX] chromosomes can be prompted to form
early-stage sperm but do not progress further. This demonstrates that the genes
on a Y chromosome are essential for meiosis and sperm maturation.”
The research is published online in the journal Stem Cells
and Development today, ahead of print, and may provide an important
breakthrough in the study of genetic disease and male infertility, but other experts in
the field have questioned the validity of the results. Moreover, the news is sure to
fuel already-heated debates surrounding reproductive technology, including
debates over the moral and legal status of embryos. For example, according
to Josephine Quintavalle, of Comment on Reproductive Ethics, “To take a
viable human embryo and destroy it in a bid to create dodgy sperm to create a
not-so-healthy embryo is experimentation for experimentation's sake.” Others worry that the procedure could someday enable the birth of
offspring from skin cells taken from men who have been dead for many
years. (See here
and here
for prior Lounge discussions on posthumous conception and fatherhood). Finally, IVD sperm cannot be used in
fertility treatment in the UK, where it is illegal,
although the researchers add that their interest lies not in developing
fertility treatments, but in studying the causes of infertility.
And because I’m an equal opportunity type of gal when it comes
to reproductive technology, I plan to return later this week with another
post on egg markets.