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Britons Say They've Made Human Sperm

AP
posted: 124 DAYS 11 HOURS AGO
comments: 354
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LONDON (July 8) -- British scientists claimed Wednesday to have created human sperm from stem cells, but other experts questioned their data.
Researchers at Newcastle University and the NorthEast England Stem Cell Institute say they used a new technique to derive what they described as sperm cells from embryonic stem cells. Stem cells have the potential to become any cell in the body.
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Karim Nayernia on July 8, 2009
Scott Heppell, AP

Researcher Karim Nayernia, here at Britain's Newcastle University on Wednesday, said his team used stem cells to create cells that "showed all the characteristics of sperm." But other scientists said the cells didn't appear to have regular human sperm traits.

Newcastle research leader Karim Nayernia said in a statement Wednesday that the technique would allow researchers to study how sperm develops and possibly help develop treatments for infertile men.
The research was published Wednesday in the journal Stem Cells and Development.
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But many other British experts cast doubt on the research. They also said the sperm cells created in the laboratory were clearly abnormal.
"I am unconvinced from the data presented in this paper that the cells produced by Professor Nayernia's group from embryonic stem cells can be accurately called 'spermatazoa," said Allan Pacey, a senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield.
Pacey said in a statement that the sperm created by Nayernia did not have the specific shape, movement and function of real sperm.
Azim Surani, a professor of physiology and reproduction at the University of Cambridge said the sperm produced by the Newcastle team were "a long way from being authentic sperm cells."
Nayernia said the cells "showed all the characteristics of sperm," but his group's intention was simply to "open up new avenues of research" with their early findings, rather than using the sperm to fertilize eggs.
Robin Lovell-Badge, a stem cell expert at the National Institute of Medical Research, said that despite the questions raised, Nayernia and colleagues may have made some progress in obtaining human sperm from embryonic cells.
Nayernia said creating embryos from lab-manufactured sperm is banned by British law.
Some lawmakers said provisions should be made to allow sperm derived from stem cells to be tested as part of potential fertility treatments.
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Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-07-08 09:31:42

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Brdbrns3

12:27 PMJul 13 2009

hooray! Now the porn industry can stop using artificial sperm?

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kalyloving5

10:13 PMJul 12 2009

Welcome to the largest and most successful interracial dating site in the world!http://www.blackwhitedate.com/ is for sincere singles of all races, seriously looking for an interracial relationship or interracial marriage. Thousands of new members daily. Join now to meet your dream date in this comfortable community of different cultures and ethnicities.

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STaRgAzEr33154

04:52 PMJul 11 2009

keep buying and using(lol) American

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STaRgAzEr33154

11:59 PMJul 11 2009

THEY SERIOUSLY HAVE TOO MUCH TIME ON THEIR HANDS..OR IN THIS CASE SOMETHING ON THEIR HANDS..LOL

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UWantaFanta18

06:40 PMJul 10 2009

DOES ANY ONE KNOW IF THIS NEWLY INVENTED SPERM WILL CONTINUE TO WHITEN YOUR TEETH??? DOES IT COME IN ANY FLAVORS??? CUZ IF NOT IMMA JUS STICK WITH MY BOYFRIENDS LMAO

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ZaeBo4

04:56 PMJul 09 2009

Good, now they can castrate all males and the crime rate will go down.

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(2)

JohnPoplawski

04:42 PMJul 09 2009

we don't need more sperm, invent more chicks who want to swallow it!!!

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(2)

Abh1171

03:54 PMJul 09 2009

Jdl7117 01:54 PMJul 09 2009 My wife tried and tried to make sperm, and then bam it hit her!@@ THIS IS Too good. Tks for the humnor.I kind of hate to see this on a prliminary basis because of the potential for significant abuse. I should, on another hand, have more faith in mankind and the good that we accomplish.

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(1)

YOGAMEWS

03:51 PMJul 09 2009

Great ! Now maybe we can finally select out all the jerks............ LOL

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Php820

03:50 PMJul 09 2009

Seems like scientist are bored or something because lately they are coming up with doozies :=D

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British scientists claimed Wednesday to have created human sperm from stem cells but other experts questioned their data. Researchers at Newcastle University and the NorthEast England Stem Cell Institute say they used a new technique to derive what they described as sperm cells from embryonic stem cells. Stem cells have the potential to become any cell in the body.