Mice Produced Using Artificial Sperm

vasanth writes to tell us scientists have successfully grown mice from artificial sperm. The sperm was created from embryonic stem cells and implanted into female mice. There were a few problems, including that some of the mice showed abnormal patterns of growth and difficulty breathing. The hope here is to assist couples who are having difficulties with conception.

Comments

Artificial Sperm?

[lecithin]

Not artificial sperm, but artificially grown sperm.

People took'sperm seeds' from stem cells and grew them into mature sperm outside the gonads.

Regardless, it looks like males have one less reason for existance.

Re:Artificial Sperm?

[hotdiggitydawg]

You mean my sole reason for existence is now opening jars for the missus?

Re:Artificial Sperm?

[Jordan Catalano]

"Regardless, it looks like males have one less reason for existance."

Don't sweat it -- you still need scientists to perform the procedure, and last I checked they weren't letting girls get into science.

If god doesn't want you to wear clothes...

[MarkByers]

Then don't. Clothes turn people into lower mamals. Though we don't have the insight right now, I bet in 50 years, we'll figured out why God didn't want you to wear clothes. All life exists for us to look at, and in some species will havve fur, or occasionally produce a viable hairy offsprring. Given life's penchant for procreation, the fact that god has said NO to people wearing clothes should be taken as an extremely stong hint that it just shouldn't be done.

Become nudist. There are tons of guys waiting for women who actually want to show off their body.

Just because we can, doesn't mean its right. Or smart.

I don't see the use

[helicologic]

[...] The sperm was created from embryonic stem cells and implanted into female mice. [...] The hope here is to assist couples who are having difficulties with conception.

How many couples really want to conceive a mouse, anyway?

Re:Welcome to the real-life "Amazon"

[Anonymous Coward]

Except for when the technology breaks and there will be no man to fix it.

Re:wtf?

[flipsoft]

Actually it is a misconception that adoption is cheaper and easier. Average adoption costs are $12k US. Significantly more than the doctors bill for our first child. Also adoption, at least in the state of CA, is very dificult and requires 50+ hours of classes. Much more time invested then a couple hours at a bar and some drinks. ;)

No.

[Silent sound]

If you'll read the article, you'll see (emphasis mine):

"If we understand this we can treat infertility in men."

In the future, men with fertility problems might be able to have their own stem cells harvested using a simple testicular biopsy, matured in the lab and then transplanted back.

They are using embryonic stem cells because of the benefits that embryonic stem cells offer over other stem cells when doing research. It is clear that once they can get the procedure working with embryonic stem cells in mice, the next step will be to get it working with non-embryonic stem cells.

Re:The Mice?

[Itninja]

Everbody knows that easily 'humanized' animals (i.e. cute and furry, big eyes, or perceived intelligence) get complete protection. Whereas ugly animals can just suck it. That's why everybody freaked out when they found out dolphins were being killed in tuna nets. But nobody cared that 1000's more TUNA were being killed in tuna nets. I mean, have you ever seen a tuna? They are ug-leee.