Scientists Make Sperm From Stem Cells, See No ‘Human in a Dish’

[Steve_A]

Hi peaceandlove,

Yet another great post from you.

The undertones of this are screaming out. The scientists are justifying their research by saying that they will understand more about infertility in men. Although fascinating, this is not necessarily their goal.

If they know how to create sperm from stem cells, they wouldn't need to understand about infertility in men, they would merely take away some stem cells from the infertile man and create his sperm for him. Why he was infertile would not be an issue.

I read once that scientists carried out a 'total body' transplant on a monkey. The monkey survived for a couple of weeks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV89Z35R38I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPmTVIzeFFE

Why did the scientists carry out a 'total body' transplant? So as not to say that they carried out a head transplant of course! Imagine. They are still perfecting their techniques and so eventually, if you pardon the pun, when heads of State die (or at least their body dies) they can be tranfered to another youthful, healthy body!

But back to the topic. This sperm from stem cells does have its' macabre side. If, through food, all men became sterile, the scientists could effectively control the world population by selecting infertile men to make sperm cells so that women could become pregnant. Seems far fetched? Not really. Recently I found out that some genetically modified corn had contraceptive substances.

http://www.gourmet.com/foodpolitics/...y-from-gm-food

Although this may be a good idea for supplying aid in parts of Africa the extreme use of this is frightening. With everybody sterile the scientists may pick a selected few to carry on with the human race.

But what will be the criteria for the selection? That's another story.

Best regards,

Steve

Originally Posted by peaceandlove

I saw a video on this earlier today on Yahoo and no one has posted it yet!

Dantheman62, How did you miss this one!!!!

Scientists Make Sperm From Stem Cells, See No ‘Human in a Dish’

By Trista Kelley

July 8 (Bloomberg) -- Scientists created human sperm from stem cells for the first time in a bid to better understand the causes of male infertility.

The researchers, led by Karim Nayernia from England’s Newcastle University, developed a technique to turn stem cells with male chromosomes from human embryos into reproductive cells, known as germline, and prompt them to divide, they said in a study published in the journal Stem Cells and Development today. The divided cells produced functional sperm, the scientists said.

The new technique “will allow researchers to study in detail how sperm forms and lead to a better understanding of infertility in men,” Professor Nayernia said in a statement released with the study. “This understanding could help us develop new ways to help couples suffering infertility so they can have a child which is genetically their own.”

The research may also help scientists understand how genetic diseases are passed on, according to the statement.

The lab-created sperm won’t be used for “fertilization of human eggs and implantation of embryos,” the researchers said. “While we can understand that some people may have concerns, this does not mean that humans can be produced ‘in a dish’ and we have no intention of doing this,” they wrote.

Stem cells, which have the power to become any type of cell in the body, are controversial when research involves human embryos, which are killed when the cells are harvested.

In another medical journal last week, more than 40 scientists, bio-ethicists, lawyers and science journal editors called on their colleagues and policy makers to develop guidelines for the research and reproductive use of stem cell- derived eggs and sperm.

To contact the reporter on this story: Trista Kelley in London at tkelley2@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: July 8, 2009 06:44 EDT

ARTICLE:http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=aKQDokHxjfw8

SOURCE for ARTICLE: http://solari.com/blog/