July 08, 2009

Dr. Jamie Grifo appeared on CNN Live with Campbell Brown to discuss a British laboratory's success in turning embryonic stem cells into sperm cells in a segment titled Male Infertility Breakthrough.

Scientists in the UK have created human sperm cells using stem cells. It could be a breakthrough in treating male infertility. And it is making news all over the world. What they did, they took the embryonic stem cells, added a little vitamin A derivative and they used this green stain. Over time, as they watched the cells over months, they were able to coax the cells there. The stem cells were taken over here. And thawed out, brought up to room temperature under this hood and then added to a chemical soup. And also, crucially, a genetic marker is tagged on to them. This is  promising technology for men who have no sperm. What they've done is taken stem cells that can create sperm. They haven't shown that they can fertilize eggs yet. There's still a big leap that has to occur, according to Dr. Jaime Grifo of NYU Langone Medical Center.  Video not available