THE mammalian egg, the cell that holds the secret to fertility, cloning and cell rejuvenation, has been created outside the body for the first time. And, Â鶹´«Ã½ has learned, researchers are very close to creating sperm in a similar way.
The feat was accomplished with cells originally derived from mouse embryos, but most experts see no reason why the technique would not work with human embryonic stem cells too. If human eggs and sperm created this way are healthy – and it is a big if – the implications for reproductive technology and regenerative medicine would be immense.
Most immediately, a…
