The technology for producing sperm and artificial eggs is ripe

Recently, researchers have reached an important milestone in the field of stem cell development into genital stem cells, suggesting that a future can create , copy the natural sperm production process from stem cells to give new treatments for.

According to TheGuardian, Azim Surani, director of embryonic and epigenetic research at the Gurdon Institute at Cambridge University (UK), speaking at the annual meeting of the Progress Educational Trust in London, he and his colleagues were close such as completing the production of artificial sperm and becoming the first people to walk halfway through human development into sex germ cells.

Previously, scientists used to use stem cells to make mouse sperm fully functional, developing them into healthy pups. Another research group implanted human stem cells into mouse testicles gave sperm-like cells. However, this sperm cannot fertilize with eggs.

Copy the natural sperm production process from stem cells to provide new treatments for infertility.

"We are not entirely sure that these cells are really like sperm. Inside each cell there is a timer that grows so let them grow in their own internal time," Surani said. . There are still concerns surrounding the use of artificial eggs and sperm that can cause any genetic errors that will leave behind.

The team is now closely monitoring development from embryonic cells to germ cells through a series of complex cell division steps. In the first few weeks, cells were selected to become sperm or eggs that developed in a common orbit, about 8 weeks later, leaving that trajectory to continue to develop completely. For mice, this happens only after 13 days.

In a recent study, cells had been orbiting for four weeks but now scientists want to extend that time to eight weeks to create sperm and eggs with complete function. all separate.

With this goal, the team developed artificial testicles, including genital cells (inoculated in a laboratory) placed in a gel medium. The combination of cells seems to provide some proper biochemical signals, pushing the cells deep into sperm production.

DNA in germ cells undergoes a process of "erasing" the chemical markers on parents' DNA through exposure to the environment. Most of these epigenetic symbols will be removed immediately after fertilization, helping to minimize the environmental impact on parents' lives when passed on to their children. However, to be more efficient, the germ cells, after developing into eggs or sperm, must also go through the same process. Surani said: "This elimination process is far more comprehensive and comprehensive and cannot find the same process anywhere else."

Ensuring that artificial sperm and eggs continue to grow in the body are essential if they are applied in the future and help provide the causes of infertility.

Research shows that someday we can produce sperm and eggs from stem cells or even skin cells.

Surani said: "If our research is put into practical application, it must be ensured that it has undergone all strict and accurate testing phases. You can copy 99.9% economically. sperm cells but still 0.1% different from the original cells about molecular details, that will cause a lot of trouble because you will not want a child to be developed from an unusual type of structure ".

Allan Pacey, a professor of male science at the University of Sheffield, agrees that accurate reproduction of the natural activity of natural sperm will take precedence over any future clinical application. He said: "I am trying to stay away from the idea of ​​producing artificial sperm because it is also an alternative tool, it cannot be as good as normal sperm".

British fertility clinics are currently prohibited from using artificial sperm and eggs to treat infertile couples. However, if scientists complete the ability to produce germ cells in the laboratory (something Surani predicted will be completed in at least another decade), managers are forced to revise the law. permission to use this technology.

For example, two gay men can still give birth to their genes by using one person's skin cells to produce eggs and use the other's sperm cells. Or women with fertility problems can develop eggs in the lab without using drugs to stimulate the ovaries.

And this success, the researchers have helped sperm and egg "copies" of cells to be more functional, allowing them to grow fully in nature. Although still not really perfect, at the same time encountering many concerns surrounding safety and ethics, but obviously if successful, this will be a hope for those suffering from infertility infertility. . We can fully believe in a future where only a father and mother's skin cells need to be used to create children with the same genetic characteristics as natural reproduction.