Oh Bugger, now what do they need guys for?

[Moonliner]

Apparently some dumbassed scientists have created artificial sperm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5154026.stm). Thank god there is still plumbing stuff to fix or we'd be history.

[Alex]

What isn't mentioned in that article but immediately popped into my mind is that once technically easy this would be a very simple method for cloning. At least for cloning women.

Take one of her stem cells, grow it into sperm and then use it to impregnate her own ova. Presumably the ability to grow an ovum from stem cells wouldn't be farther behind and then men could easily clone themselves as well.

[Not Afraid]

I want a housecleaning cloan.

[Moonliner]

What isn't mentioned in that article but immediately popped into my mind is that once technically easy this would be a very simple method for cloning. At least for cloning women.

Take one of her stem cells, grow it into sperm and then use it to impregnate her own ova. Presumably the ability to grow an ovum from stem cells wouldn't be farther behind and then men could easily clone themselves as well.

I think that would produce an offspring more along the lines of a normal child than a clone. Even if you mix genetic material from the same individual it would combine in new ways to create a unique individual.

[Gemini Cricket]

In the insect world, lots of males are just spunk dispensers and food for the females. Girl power!
:D

[Alex]

Is that correct? The DNA of both contributing parties would be identical so regardless of whether it came form the ovum or the sperm,wouldn't each of the 46 chromosomes end up being identical to both sources of DNA.

Variation, I think, would arise only in the form of improper combinations.

But I may be misremembering something. Biology was the one scientific study that I hated in school.

[€uroMeinke]

Don't Chromosomes come in pairs, potentially dominant or recessive? I think there's an increase in more recessive traits emerging in blending one's own DNA. This still is sexual reproduction even if not much sex is going on.

[DisneyFan25863]

Don't Chromosomes come in pairs, potentially dominant or recessive? I think there's an increase in more recessive traits emerging in blending one's own DNA. This still is sexual reproduction even if not much sex is going on.


Yeah...but if they take traits Aa BB cc DD Ee from a mother and impregenate her with the same chromosomes, the result would still be Aa BB cc DD Ee. Of course, as with any biological activity, mutations would occur, so there may be some differences.

I'm not exactly sure how they are doing the process...if they impregenate the donor, then it *should* be a clone, but if they don't it would be just like a normal child.

[mistyisjafo]

Whatever happened to "Don't Mess With Nature"? The faux sperm is way too freaky to even consider!

[€uroMeinke]

But ovum and sperm do not carry the full set of chromosomal pairs, they each carry half - so in the above example you could have offspring with Aa, AA, or aa combinations (with a 75% probablity of exibbiliting the dominate "A" trait)

[RStar]

How is it people are afraid to eat genetically modified veggies but are ok with this? If we screw with our DNA, and contaminate our species......Hello! XMen anyone?

I don't know the make up of the imposter spermicette, but this sounds just like the way they make clones. Only they use a cell nucleous or mitachondria rather than the faux sperm, I think.

~Bob

[Andrew]

If we screw with our DNA, and contaminate our species......Hello! XMen anyone?
If I can shoot ice from my hands or turn invisible or attract metal with my mind, I'm willing to take that risk.

[Drince88]

Take one of her stem cells, grow it into sperm and then use it to impregnate her own ova. Presumably the ability to grow an ovum from stem cells wouldn't be farther behind and then men could easily clone themselves as well.
Yea, but they'd still need the women around to be incubators!

[Gemini Cricket]

If I can shoot ice from my hands or turn invisible or attract metal with my mind, I'm willing to take that risk.
I get dibs on controlling the weather! :D