Scientists Created Sperm from Bone Marrow of a Woman: Man No Longer Needed for Reproduction

1. ted
   February 1st, 2008 at 8:01 pm

   Because just getting a donor would be so much more of a hassle...

2. JamesB
   February 1st, 2008 at 8:19 pm

   Now we just need a way to create eggs from bone marrow and we can all start asexually reproducing!

3. Video Game Dork
   February 1st, 2008 at 8:19 pm

   Good luck with the genetic stagnation that'll cause.

4. Jennifer
   February 1st, 2008 at 8:44 pm

   Oh, yeah ... because adopting a kid who needs a home is so pointless.

5. VonSkippy
   February 1st, 2008 at 8:48 pm

   From the science POV, that's very cool.

   From the man POV, I'm off to hug my wife and tell her how important she is to me.

6. biltmore
   February 1st, 2008 at 9:12 pm

   Wonder if all males will die off now, "Y - The Last Man" style.

7. andrea
   February 1st, 2008 at 9:33 pm

   I have to wonder what kind of genetic freak would result from a self-fertilized pregnancy.

8. Chad
   February 1st, 2008 at 9:52 pm

   andrea: It doesn't have to be self-fertilized, it could be marrow from someone else...
   The headline is somewhat misleading; Men are still needed, these people have just obtained permission to obsolete them. (which they may or may not be able to do.)

9. Chad
   February 1st, 2008 at 9:54 pm

   Nevermind, I just RTFA'd, they've obsoleted men, just not with marrow yet. (just with eggs.)

10. Christophe
    February 1st, 2008 at 9:59 pm

    Sperm coming from a lesbian.. Manly girl Uberachievment!

    andrea : I had the same reaction : your own twin! kewl!
    "Mini-me, you complete me" Dr. Evil.

    Genetics are growing so fast, that I'm sure we'll see something human based in the next 10 years.

11. Ali S.
    February 1st, 2008 at 10:38 pm

    This is all great until they need someone to open that stubborn pickle jar!

12. Loman
    February 1st, 2008 at 11:08 pm

    Well, that's it then.

    No more sex.

    We won't be discriminating Homo-sexuals any more, cos in the future we'd all be A-sexual, singular being with the capability to have both genders - PERMANENTLY.

    We're all going to be worms, by definition. Well, OK, so no spontaneous sex-switching to propagate the species, but it's pretty damned close to it!

    They did say we're all made from mud anyways, eh?

13. ted
    February 1st, 2008 at 11:11 pm

    And the fish finally gave up her bicycle.

14. Kerozene
    February 1st, 2008 at 11:48 pm

    A future where I have nobody to kill spiders for me, is a grim future indeed.

15. oakling
    February 1st, 2008 at 11:57 pm

    I was going to say - they can already make babies by banging two eggs together (or something more delicate and scientifical along those lines) - why are they fiddling around with making sperm?

16. Emily
    February 2nd, 2008 at 12:37 am

    Somehow i don't think sex will ever die out, regardless of what crazy methods of reproduction we come up with.

17. L. Zoel
    February 2nd, 2008 at 12:41 am

    Fortunately, they'll still need us around, if only to have someone to blame.

18. Miss Cellania
    February 2nd, 2008 at 1:06 am

    Don't y'all worry too much, there are still reasons to have sex besides making babies.

19. bwblack1
    February 2nd, 2008 at 1:58 am

    wait so what happens to our dna? collectively, that is. what happens to the human heart (or soul, as it were -scientific explanations involved) if, in extreme considerations, the relative essence of humanity comes from procreative arts rather than procreation?
    in other words, at this point in our history, what is the use? what is the use of creating new kinds of man when our own mutation is incomplete (despite the ideas that our evolution is dictated by natural means or is factually under our control).
    something seems ominously reminiscent of the year nineteen hundred and twelve

    thank you for the opportunity to post a comment

20. yudonomi
    February 2nd, 2008 at 2:43 am

    As long as there are pheromones, there will be men and women wanting to have sex with each other.

21. Goldkitty
    February 2nd, 2008 at 4:57 am

    With the human population exceeding six billion, why do we need yet another method of reproducing?

22. XY
    February 2nd, 2008 at 4:59 am

    You mean, like, from the rib?

23. su.wei
    February 2nd, 2008 at 5:09 am

    this is so cool.

    yay for cell biology <3!

24. Frank
    February 2nd, 2008 at 5:13 am

    Because women making a baby with other women can get only girls whats the point? That means more chicks for men! Great news!

25. ithidet
    February 2nd, 2008 at 8:00 am

    oh crap

    the y chromosome is screwed guys

26. Abestar
    February 2nd, 2008 at 11:17 am

    This is a disgusting perversion of nature.

27. L
    February 2nd, 2008 at 1:39 pm

    They've concentrated so much on gay and lesbian couples, but why wouldn't it also work for heterosexual couples where the natural "contribution" of one or both of the partners is not viable? This technology (if it actually works) doesn't mean people are going to go around making exact replicas of themselves or discard men. It's just another way to have a baby.

    Considering the population mess we've gotten ourselves into, though, it may not be the best idea. Do we really need yet another way to bring more hungry mouths into the world?

28. SW
    February 2nd, 2008 at 3:54 pm

    as a lesbian, i've been waiting for this for along time. i just hope they get it down pat in the next few decades. it's not about eliminating men by any means, you heteros continue to do your thing. it's about having a baby WITH my partner, which is OUR child, 50/50.

29. ted
    February 2nd, 2008 at 5:55 pm

    Which is sooo selfish, if you think about it.

30. Cameron
    February 2nd, 2008 at 8:00 pm

    I agree with SW, as a lesbian, I'd rather have a kid with my partner, than some guy's sperm from a sperm bank or whatever the hell. That would leave me out the equation completely. So, huzzah for this new discovery!

31. NeuroGirl
    February 3rd, 2008 at 2:04 am

    There's compelling research to show that the Y chromosome is naturally evolving itself out, so this is actually GOOD news for men. The Y chromosome carries comparatively few genes and is made stronger by extensive crossing over. If scientists can genetically select for 'stronger' Y chromosomes, the survival of the sex can be ensured.
    I don't think I could stomach a world dominated by women. Well, that and I have to actually climb on top of the kitchen counter to reach the top shelf... it's easier to just have a guy do it

32. Evil Pundit
    February 3rd, 2008 at 2:08 am

    Not to worry. In another five or ten years they'll be able to make egg cells from male tissue. And after tha, artificial wombs.

    It's a free-for-all!

33. MoonCake
    February 3rd, 2008 at 8:43 am

    and then you have to take into consideration, even though it has been discovered doesn't mean it will become popular. it really is a breakthrough, though, for those who are incapable of reproducing and gay/lesbian couples. i always wondered how i would feel if i was gay and couldn't technically reproduce with my partner. i mean, you not only have to deal with social discrimination, but biological too. kudos to gay people.

34. ferrocyanide
    February 4th, 2008 at 12:51 pm

    Wow, this is so useful. Perish the thought of anyone not being able to have children with their own DNA.

35. Jeremy
    February 7th, 2008 at 9:14 pm

    I'm scared.

36. Potential
    December 12th, 2008 at 12:19 am

    Men won't become obsolete...you'd still need someone to perform the actual science.

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