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Sperm created from mice embryonic stem cells - Source: BBC
Scientists in Britain say they have achieved a world first by creating human sperm in a laboratory.
The BBC reports that the research could eventually help men with fertility problems.
However other scientists are not convinced fully developed sperm have been created.
Three years ago mice were created using artificial sperm but all had health problems and died.
Writing in the journal Stem Cells and Development, the Newcastle team said it will be at least five years before the technique is perfected.
They used stem cell lines which had been removed from donated human embryos a few days old and then stored in tanks of liquid nitrogen. The process of creating and developing the sperm took several weeks, the BBC reports.
The researchers from Newcastle say the sperm were fully mature and they have produced a video to back up their claims but others say the quality of the images is not good enough and more data is needed.
Has science gone too far by creating human sperm? Have your say on the message board below
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Post new commentdon_quijote said on 2009-10-29 @ 10:57 NZDT: Report abusive post
Now more than ever we need balanced, reasoned science and medicine reporting, and to the detriment of us all, we have the sensationalism of 'scientists create human sperm and eggs in a lab'. Even the question above of 'have scientists gone too far..' is leading. Having read the original article in Nature the purpose of this study was to understand the gene expression necessary to form human germ cells, not create sperm and eggs to use in fertilization (as implied by the article)
benrebo said on 2009-10-29 @ 09:38 NZDT: Report abusive post
The trouble with you science knockers is that you use science when you need, but if the needs of others are not important to you, science is going too far. And you complain via the internet, you'll accept scientific treatment if you get ill, you will fly in a plane, and you read under an electric light, drive a car etc etc, you whole life relies on science so let others have a go and may be reap some rewards that perhaps you were lucky enough not to need.