Scientists are on the brink of a revolutionary breakthrough in fertility science, with lab-grown eggs and sperm potentially just a few years away. This advancement could transform reproductive possibilities, allowing anyone, regardless of age or fertility, to have biological children. The research, supported by prominent figures like OpenAI's Sam Altman, promises to address population decline and redefine human reproduction.
Breakthrough in Lab-Grown Eggs and Sperm: A Game Changer for Fertility
Breakthrough in Lab-Grown Eggs and Sperm: A Game Changer for Fertility
Scientists suggest that lab-grown eggs and sperm could be just a few years away.
Researchers are nearing the ability to cultivate functional human gametes in the lab, according to The Guardian.
Katsuhiko Hayashi, a leading expert in the field, believes rapid progress is being made towards converting skin and blood cells into sperm and eggs. He predicts his own lab in Japan is seven years from reaching this milestone.
"I feel a bit pressured. It's like being in a race," he said at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in Paris this week.
"Could Reverse Population Decline"
Researchers at a California-based company, supported by OpenAI founder Sam Altman, told The Guardian that egg cultivation "could be the best tool to reverse population decline."
If successful, the method would allow anyone, regardless of fertility or age, to have biological children, the newspaper reports.