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That is truly amazing, it's great that almost weekly I see something created that seemed like it might be decades away. There are a lot of political/legal cons

That is truly amazing, it's great that almost weekly I see something created that seemed like it might be decades away. There are a lot of political/legal consequences of research like this, paternity tests can be used to rob unwitting men if someone decides to create a child without their knowledge. Also, this may eventually change the burden of proof in various forms of assault as the presence of sperm doesn't actually indicate that the individual involved was there. On the flip side the upside is amazing, allowing sterile fathers to have children. And of course the technology is involved is amazing.

klipt 17y ago
It might also allow lesbian couples to conceive using only their own DNA, if this technology isn't limited to male genes.
- lucumo 17y ago
  You'd still need the Y-chromosome. While not as big as the others, it does contain some genetic material.
  - gojomo 17y ago
    Not if they want a daughter.
    - alexandros 17y ago
      and it follows then that women will be able to carry their own clones too..
    - NickM 17y ago
      So if lesbians could reproduce...and they could only have daughters...and if it turns out there's a genetic predisposition towards lesbianism... This is probably a completely ridiculous idea, but I wonder if men might someday be weeded out by "natural" selection.
      - eru 17y ago
        Why? Male couples should be able to reproduce in the same way --- given enough money to rent out a womb (or the technology to create one). As an added bonus they can also create females.
    - anthonyw 17y ago
      Some of his early work led to stories about “an end to men”, enabling lesbian couples to have their own biological children without male involvement but, according to Prof Nayernia, these were based on a “misunderstanding”. “IVD sperm can only be produced from stem cells with male [XY] chromosomes,” he said. “Stem cells with female [XX] chromosomes can be prompted to form early-stage sperm but do not progress further. This demonstrates that the genes on a Y chromosome are essential for meiosis and sperm maturation.” From: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1f16dfe8-6b2f-11de-861d-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=rss http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1f16dfe8-6b2f-11de-861d-00144feabd...
  - jodrellblank 17y ago
    "news.ychromasome.com. While not as big as the others, it does contain some material"?
tybris 17y ago
Yup, when the economy is down all the smart people rush back to science ;-).
cousin_it 17y ago
paternity tests can be used to rob unwitting men if someone decides to create a child without their knowledge This would be a problem with the law, not a problem with the science.
- dantheman 17y ago
  Just pointing out that as science advances old techniques need to be updated. In no way was I implying that there was any problem with science.
jeremyawon 17y ago
an upside i haven't seen mentioned is birth control - if the technology were perfected, men could sterilize themselves without giving up the possibility of having children.

klipt 17y ago

It might also allow lesbian couples to conceive using only their own DNA, if this technology isn't limited to male genes.

lucumo 17y ago
You'd still need the Y-chromosome. While not as big as the others, it does contain some genetic material.
- gojomo 17y ago
  Not if they want a daughter.
  - alexandros 17y ago
    and it follows then that women will be able to carry their own clones too..
  - NickM 17y ago
    So if lesbians could reproduce...and they could only have daughters...and if it turns out there's a genetic predisposition towards lesbianism... This is probably a completely ridiculous idea, but I wonder if men might someday be weeded out by "natural" selection.
    - eru 17y ago
      Why? Male couples should be able to reproduce in the same way --- given enough money to rent out a womb (or the technology to create one). As an added bonus they can also create females.
  - anthonyw 17y ago
    Some of his early work led to stories about “an end to men”, enabling lesbian couples to have their own biological children without male involvement but, according to Prof Nayernia, these were based on a “misunderstanding”. “IVD sperm can only be produced from stem cells with male [XY] chromosomes,” he said. “Stem cells with female [XX] chromosomes can be prompted to form early-stage sperm but do not progress further. This demonstrates that the genes on a Y chromosome are essential for meiosis and sperm maturation.” From: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1f16dfe8-6b2f-11de-861d-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=rss http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1f16dfe8-6b2f-11de-861d-00144feabd...
- jodrellblank 17y ago
  "news.ychromasome.com. While not as big as the others, it does contain some material"?

tybris 17y ago

Yup, when the economy is down all the smart people rush back to science ;-).

cousin_it 17y ago

paternity tests can be used to rob unwitting men if someone decides to create a child without their knowledge This would be a problem with the law, not a problem with the science.

dantheman 17y ago
Just pointing out that as science advances old techniques need to be updated. In no way was I implying that there was any problem with science.

jeremyawon 17y ago

an upside i haven't seen mentioned is birth control - if the technology were perfected, men could sterilize themselves without giving up the possibility of having children.