Egg, Sperm Tech May Allow Single Parent Conception

Fertility experts predict that in-vitro gametes (IVGs) may become the “holy grail of fertility research.” Also referred to as sex cells, gametes are an organism's reproductive cells. Female gametes are ova or egg cells, and male gametes are sperm. Now, researchers predict that IVGs may be created in laboratory settings using genetically reprogrammed skin or stem cells. But if the technology proves to be viable, there are ethical and legal issues that need to be addressed.

Creating IVGs will be a boost for individuals who can’t produce their own eggs or sperm, says The Guardian. The technology is expected to be available within a decade according to a recent meeting of the U. K’s Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) board.

This will permit same sex couples or individuals at any age to have their own biological children, but it also poses medical and ethical risks, say experts.

Peter Thompson, chief executive of the HFEA, said: “In-vitro gametes have the potential to vastly increase the availability of human sperm and eggs for research and, if proved safe, effective, and publicly acceptable, to provide new fertility treatment options for men with low sperm counts and women with low ovarian reserve.”

The success of lab-grown eggs in mice has had profound implications for human fertility treatments. While the equivalent feat has not been replicated using human cells, U.S. startup labs such as Conception and Gameto are closing in on the finish line.

According to NPR, Conception is trying to accelerate, and eventually commercialize, a field of biomedical research known as in vitro gametogenesis (IVG). "Basically, we're trying to turn a type of stem cell called an induced pluripotent stem cell into a human egg," says Matt Krisiloff, one of the founders. "This really opens the door, if you can create eggs, to be able to help people have children that otherwise don't have options right now."

The experimental technology could help women who have lost their eggs to cancer treatment, women who have never been able to produce healthy eggs and women whose eggs are no longer viable because of their age.

There are several hurdles in the way. Using IVGs may not be legal under current law, and they’d have to be proven safe. If the egg and sperm come from the same individual, there could be huge vulnerability to genetic disorders because faulty genes that are minimized if two copies of every gene are present — one maternal copy and one paternal copy ─ would not happen. Another problem is that huge numbers of embryos could be created inviting extensive screening.

Thompson said: “Research on IVGs is progressing quickly but it is not yet clear when they might be a viable option in treatment. IVGs raise important questions and that is why the HFEA has recommended that they should be subject to statutory regulation in time, and that biologically dangerous use of IVGs in treatment should never be permitted.”