British Scientists Create Sperm…and Critics

British scientists are jubilant about being the first to create human sperm from embryonic stem cells, but their colleagues are unconvinced.

The study, published today in “Stem Cells and Development,” detailed the findings of researchers from Newcastle University and the NorthEast England Stem Cell Institute, who used stem cells to make the sperm. Stem cells are valuable because they are capable of developing into any cell. But they are also controversial because human embryos are killed in the process of collecting those stem cells.

Lead researcher of the study, Karim Nayemia, released a statement trumpeting their spermatozoa “invention” and it’s possible usage in the treatment of infertile men, but other experts are dubious.

One of those experts, Allan Pacey of the University of Sheffield, remarked that Nayemia’s team did not produce anything that resembled real sperm. A professor of physiology at the University of Cambridge, Azim Surani, agreed, telling the Associated Press that this created sperm “was a long way from being authentic sperm cells.”

Nevertheless, Nayemia and fellow researchers defended their “manmade” sperm and said their findings would expand research into genetic disorders and infertility. But they categorically deny that their sperm would be used to make a human being.

British law forbids such tinkering with human genetics.