Scientists create artificial human sperm
<b>Grain of science</b><br>Scientists in Newcastle have created what they claim is an artificial human sperm.<br>Prof Karim Nayernia, from the North East England Stem Cell Institute, said his team ‘prompted’ embryonic stem cells to divide their chro
Grain of science
Scientists in Newcastle have created what they claim is an artificial human sperm.
Prof Karim Nayernia, from the North East England Stem Cell Institute, said his team ‘prompted’ embryonic stem cells to divide their chromosomes, then grow tails and become sperm cells. They have named these cells “In Vitro Derived†or IVD sperm.
It is hoped the technique could eventually allow infertile men to become fathers. However, it is currently illegal in the UK to use artificial sperms to produce a baby. But now, scientists in the UK say they want the law changed to help infertile men.
Nayernia says they have no intention of using their breakthrough to produce humans in the laboratory. But he wants legislation to be put in place as a way of investigating infertility.
Other eminent scientists have urged caution saying that the breakthrough has not demonstrated that the artificial sperm cells are capable of producing a viable embryo.
However, Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in Andrology at the University of Sheffield, says he is still not convinced that the cells produced by Prof. Nayernia’s group are fully functional sperm cells.
“Whilst the cells produced may possess some of the distinctive genetic features and molecular markers seen in sperm, fully differentiated human spermatozoa have specific cellular morphology, behaviour and function,†he said. But Prof. Nayernia hit back claiming his work was being subjected to “unreasonable†criticism. “Our intention was only to open up new avenues of research with these early findings,†he said. “My research group believes this is a very important and exciting step forward and we will continue to develop this area of research.â€
Scientists in Newcastle have created what they claim is an artificial human sperm.
Prof Karim Nayernia, from the North East England Stem Cell Institute, said his team ‘prompted’ embryonic stem cells to divide their chromosomes, then grow tails and become sperm cells. They have named these cells “In Vitro Derived†or IVD sperm.
It is hoped the technique could eventually allow infertile men to become fathers. However, it is currently illegal in the UK to use artificial sperms to produce a baby. But now, scientists in the UK say they want the law changed to help infertile men.
Nayernia says they have no intention of using their breakthrough to produce humans in the laboratory. But he wants legislation to be put in place as a way of investigating infertility.
Other eminent scientists have urged caution saying that the breakthrough has not demonstrated that the artificial sperm cells are capable of producing a viable embryo.
However, Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in Andrology at the University of Sheffield, says he is still not convinced that the cells produced by Prof. Nayernia’s group are fully functional sperm cells.
“Whilst the cells produced may possess some of the distinctive genetic features and molecular markers seen in sperm, fully differentiated human spermatozoa have specific cellular morphology, behaviour and function,†he said. But Prof. Nayernia hit back claiming his work was being subjected to “unreasonable†criticism. “Our intention was only to open up new avenues of research with these early findings,†he said. “My research group believes this is a very important and exciting step forward and we will continue to develop this area of research.â€