Scientists have developed a new technique by which they are able to create cloned sperms. In future this technique could enable men with very low sperm counts to become fathers.
This technique has been tested in mice where a single healthy mouse sperm was injected into a mouse egg from which all the genetic material was removed. The sperm then was able to make more sperms on its own. Scientists have stated that further refinement of the technique will make it fit for humans as well.
Some experts have however raised safety concerns as some mice made from cloned sperms were abnormal. However, still four of these offspring had grown into normal adults.
Researchers now will need to figure out why some mice were born abnormal. They however believe that the technique had enough potential to be used in humans.
Fertility is a common problem and one in every seven couples attempting a first pregnancy face this problem and out of these couples male fertility is the reason in 40% cases.
In such a case researchers will use one of the sperm and inject it into the egg from where the genetic material will be removed, once there the sperm will develop more sperms in an effort to guarantee that the implanted embryo is healthy.
Before using the technique in humans, researchers will have to check the next generation of mice born from clone-made rodents as there might be some genetic disorders which might affect the future generations of these mice.
Via: BBC
