Well scientists can now produce sperm cells from bone marrow. How amazing is that? They take stem cells from the marrow and tell them to turn into sperm cells. They will then inject the sperm into the bollocks, and Bobs your aunties live in lover, as it were.
I imagine it will be as painful as it sounds.
They foresee this technology being used to help men who are infertile (eg after chemotherapy) to become fertile again.
I reckon women will want to use this technology to have their own children too. As I see it:
Two 'lady friends' who want a child
One 'lady friend' donates an egg, the other one donates some bone marrow. Voila, men need not apply.
Would that scenario even be possible??
Would it be possible for a woman to donate an egg *and* bone marrow and be able to reproduce without a second party? So, in theory, a virgin birth might be possible...
The mind truly boggles!
Monday, April 16, 2007
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In theory a virgin birth is possible.
It has happened in nature I think with tigers and dolphins that we know about - pretty rare though.
Btw, it's called parthenogenesis.
But for you religious sceptics, this couldn't have been the answer to Mary's virginity since - although this is absolutely not cloning - its a new individual with almost as much diversity as the ordinary way, a woman, reproducing in this way, would only ever give birth to a girl. More bad news for men!
Sorry to be an anorak.
I did wonder about that, and i suppose if you think about it, its quite logical.
It also crossed my mind that, in much the same way as close relatives reproducing and having a high rate of birth defects, I would imagine that this technique would produce pretty much 100% defects in all successful fertilisations? Correct me if Im wrong (which Im sure you will!)
By the way, I can't see a problem with more women ;-D
Nah, risk of defect will be identicalto that of a close relative - although perhaps a little more forgivable.
well googled evo
This is all fundamental knowledge for an evo. Sort of like your intrinsic knowledge of the rules of rugby league - only far more interesting.
yea I would say so...isn't your degree in this area? (Or there abouts?)
No, my degree was electronics. Its just an interest of mine.
Ah right, for some reason I thought yours was in Chemistry.
I have absolutely zilch knowledge in science, but I'm more concerned at the depleation of men. Now I consider myself a feminist in as far as equality for both sexes/genders. I like men, I certainly have no wish to be rid of them (despite numerous exclaimations of the contrary). Some of my best friends are male and I love and appreciate them as much as any female friends of mine.
I think this technology will be good for those who have infertility problems or lesbian couples who want a biological child (adoption is nigh impossible for gay couples). But I'd hate for it to become a social experiment to erradicate the male population. Not that I believe this would ever happen in the near future, but the seeds for the idea are being fermented.
If the eggs where from one person and the bone marrow from another, I cant see a problem with it, but from the same person is cloning by another name isn't it?
Hope you don't mind me visiting your blog btw. :)
The more the merrier AirlieBird :-)
I dont think there would ever be a serious plan to get rid of men.
For starters, who would get spiders out of the bath?
Besides, there is already enough sperm tucked away in sperm banks to make men redundant without this technology.
Did you know, the ex of a chicken is not determined by genetics, but by temperature of the egg during incubation.
So...
since female chickens are the ones that lay eggs and since eggs are pretty much the most useful thing about chickens, we make sure that only a very small number of roosters are ever born for mating purposes.
So, you never know, when the sperm banks do get a bit low, the Amazonians could just hatch a man or two to stock up again.
Imagine being that man?
Would these men mate with the chickens? :-D
maybe not with the chickens but he would need a cock or two (sorry i know ive lowered it but thats what i do best)
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