Stem Cell Research Produces Human Sperm

Stem cells were a hot topic back in 1998 when University of Wisconsin-Madison biologist James Thomson derived the first human embryonic stem cell line. This paved the way for research that many claimed had the potential to cure diseases and develop various human cells that could create tissues or cells that could be organ specific.

Since stems cells are capable of renewing themselves through cell division, being able to create them in a lab could allow biologists to defy mother nature and prolong human life. Not simply through medicine, but through cells repairing themselves where they normally do not.

Something that used to be reserved for Sci-Fi movies may now at the very least be possible, if not probable. Which brings us to the latest stem cell breakthrough. The creation of Human Sperm using embryonic stem cells. Newcastle University in England is where it all happened.

Fertile men can relax however. The IVD sperm which was created in the lab isn't exactly "normal sperm" according to Karim Nayernia who led the team of biologists who made the breakthrough discovery. It seems they have the basic makeup of healthy male sperm but they lack several key ingredients which would allow them to function normally and pave way for actual fertilization.

But that isn't exactly what this research was about. At least that's what they claim. Instead much could be learned from these IVD sperm. Such as pinpointing the cause and possible treatments for male infertility. One thing is clear however, with the advancements in stem cell research the possibility of creating fully functional human sperm may not be that far off. Imagine someone being able to father children even after death simply using their own stem cells. Is this downplaying the natural human process of creating life?

This is what scares the living daylights out of Petri Dish conspiracy theorists who believe that humans will soon be created in labs and genetically engineered for sinister purposes. Or the more likely scenario would be custom cell creation for reproduction. Want a boy or a girl? Or maybe choose your future son or daughters hair color and height. Sound like Gattaca doesn't it?