Sperm Cells From Stem Cells?

The promise of producing “any” type of cells or tissues from stem cells has taken yet another interesting, and controversial result. British researchers claimed to have created sperms using stem cells!

Professor Karim Nayernia at Newcastle University and the NorthEast England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) used donated human embryos to create stem cells. The stem cells were then placed in a chemical brew that enabled them to develop into “germline” stem cells. The XT stem cells were then allowed to develop into mature sperm cells, which have heads, tails and move. (Watch this grainy video.)

The scientists hope the technology will give infertile men and boys the chance to have babies. Young children treated with radiation or chemotherapy usually grow up infertile or unable to conceive.

But because current British law does not allow the sperms to be used for reproduction, there’s no definitive way to determine if the lab-grown cells are viable or can produce normal, healthy babies.

Other scientists are obviously skeptical. One scientist commented to BBC radio that he would like a higher-resolution video to look at the sperms in detail, because movement and physical likeness says nothing of the sperm’s viability. I would like to study the sperms at the DNA level.

Also in question is the ethics of the research. As Corethics spokesperson put it –

“Our moral objection is that it is an absurdity that to get an embryo they take an embryo and destroy it to potentially create another.”

Which side do you take on this stem-cell-into-sperm debate?

Image: Newscom