Healthy Lab Grown Sperm? This Startup Thinks It's Done It
Summary
A Utah startup named Paterna Biosciences says it has created fully developed human sperm from stem cells taken from testicular tissue. They used these lab-grown sperm to fertilize eggs and produced embryos that looked healthy, though the results still need independent confirmation and further testing.Key Facts
- Paterna Biosciences developed human sperm from sperm-forming stem cells outside the body.
- The process used a small sample of testicular tissue and simulated natural sperm development in a lab dish.
- They applied computer models to identify the molecular signals needed at each stage of sperm growth.
- The lab-grown sperm successfully fertilized eggs, creating embryos that appear healthy so far.
- This advancement could help 10-15% of infertile men who produce no sperm but have stem cells that could mature under the right conditions.
- The method is not yet ready for medical use and requires more studies on fertilization rates, embryo quality, and genetic safety.
- Clinical trials to attempt pregnancies with lab-grown sperm could start as early as next year if further tests are positive.
- Experts warn that fertility treatment costs and limited insurance coverage might restrict who benefits from this technology.
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