Genetically modified sperm

Genetically modified sperm is sperm that has undergone genetic modification for biomedical purposes, such as the elimination of genetic diseases or infertility for example.[1]

Although the procedure has already been tried on animals such as fish[2], pigs,[3] and rabbits[4], it remains largely untried on humans.[5] In the case of pigs, the goal of research is to produce inexpensive organs that would remove an existing shortage of donated human organs.[6]

Researchers have said that the potential of GM sperm is promising, although it would likely take many years for it to successfully be used in the detection and elimination of genetic diseases. This topic notably came up in a recent case where an American teenager was allowed to sue a sperm bank because she had been born with fragile X syndrome.[7]

References

  1. ^ Animals From Genetically Modified Sperm
  2. ^ Genetically modified sperm in fish
  3. ^ Manzini, S.; Vargiolu, A.; Stehle, I.; Bacci, M.; Cerrito, M.; Giovannoni, R.; Zannoni, A.; Bianco, M. et al. (2006). "Genetically modified pigs produced with a nonviral episomal vector". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 103 (47): 17672–17677. Bibcode 2006PNAS..10317672M. doi:10.1073/pnas.0604938103. PMC 1635978. PMID 17101993. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1635978.  edit
  4. ^ Wang, H. J.; Lin, A. X.; Zhang, Z. C.; Chen, Y. F. (2001). "Expression of porcine growth hormone gene in transgenic rabbits as reported by green fluorescent protein". Animal biotechnology 12 (2): 101–110. doi:10.1081/ABIO-100108336. PMID 11808625.  edit
  5. ^ Scientists 'five years away' from creating human sperm and eggs in a laboratory
  6. ^ "Human genes placed in pigs". The Cincinnati Post. 2002-10-22. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-93187334.html. Retrieved 2010-02-08. 
  7. ^ "Sperm bank sued under product liability law". New Scientist. 2009-04-08. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227032.400-sperm-bank-sued-under-product-liability-law.html. Retrieved 2010-02-08.