London - Sperm cells have been created from the skin of men who have a genetic defect that makes them infertile.
Scientists believe the technique could bring hope to men who are unable to generate enough sperm to conceive.
More immediately, the breakthrough offers researchers a method for studying sperm development and male infertility treatments.
Lead researcher Dr Reijo Pera, from the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at Stanford University in the US, said: “It might even be possible to transplant stem-cell-derived germ cells directly into the testes of men with problems producing sperm.”
Infertility affects up to 15 percent of couples, and Dr Pera, whose findings were published in the journal Cell Reports, said genetic causes were surprisingly prevalent among men. - Daily Mail