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Scientists have created life in the laboratory without using sperm or eggs, two different kinds of stem cells were combined in a dish and they grew into an early form of embryo. Creating embryos from stem cells would create an unlimited supply of identical embryos for medical research.
‘Sperm magnets’,-magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS), involve collecting sperm samples that are then mixed with a marker protein- Annexin V, that contains magnetic particles, the samples are left for 15 minutes at room temperature. The protein binds to a molecule that is produced when dying sperm cells experience degeneration of their membranes.
The semen samples are then passed through a magnetic field that selectively catches the unhealthy sperm, which may occur as a result of infections, smoking or exposure to environmental pollution. Healthy sperm pass through the magnetic field and are collected for use as normal in IVF. The method used in mice could result in a mouse being created without using sperm or eggs within three years.
Researchers combined two different types of embryonic stem cells from mice, once combined in a dish they grew into the early stage of the embryo before it implants in the womb. When transferred into the womb, the cells initially triggered changes in the womb like those created by a normal embryo aged 3.5 days old, but failed to properly implant.
According to Professor Nicholas Rivron of Maastricht University, the lead researcher, a viable mouse embryo could be created as soon as three years – but a human embryo would take decades. The main use for the embryos would be for drug testing and research.
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