Marilyn Thipthorpe
Last year, a study conducted at the University of Cambridge involving the production of viable sperms and eggs went viral (pun intended!). The scientists of the Gurdon Institute in Cambridge headed by Dr. Azim Surani, reported that they had successfully created primitive forms of artificial sperm and eggs by culturing embryonic stem cells from the skin cells of humans. This study had been under intensive scrutiny by the UK government as well as various social rights groups as it was considered to be a crime against nature. This however did not stop the zeal of scientists across the world conducting studies of their own, and recently, scientists in China have announced that they have successfully been able to produce sperm as well as viable offspring. It is great news for the LGBT community as well as infertile couples who are claiming it to be a great source of hope.
Chinese scientist came across this breakthrough in their lab while using lab-grown sperm to father baby mice for the first time. This was the first successful test in history, due to the fact that the babies were born healthy and were infact fertile themselves. The sperm was created from stem cells of the mice with added chemicals, hormones and testicular tissue from the father. Did you know that the creation of sperm is one of the longest and most intricate processes in the body; it can take many months in most mammals to produce an ounce of sperm. This research has now led to a more interesting and progressive test. The possibility that same sex couples as well as infertile ones can now be parents is a very real thing.