Researches from Cambridge University have discovered that it is possible to make a baby using cells from two same-sex parents, potentially allowing future gay couples to have their own biological children.
And this isn’t just scifi geek speak — the group predicts that with their stem cell breakthrough, the technology could be ready in as little as two years.
Using skin cells, the scientists have show for the first time that it is possible to create human egg and sperm cells with stem cells.
They compared the lab-created stem cells with human cells from fetuses and found they had identical characteristics.
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Azim Surani, leader of the project, told The Sunday Times, “We have succeeded in the first and most important step of this process, which is to show we can make these very early human stem cells in a dish. We have also discovered that one of the things that happens in these germ cells is that epigenetic mutations, the cell mistakes that occur with age, are wiped out.”
So gays will soon have genetically superior biological offspring? Cue enhanced social media oversharing in two years, nine months.
h/t: PinkNews
Baba Booey Fafa Fooey
That’s exciting. I love science and research. But, there will be miserable and homophobic gay and straight people who will speak out against this for all kinds of reasons. But, good news for gay parents that would like to have biological kids.
AnthonyN
Though I haven’t researched this enough to know if it is not only safe but effective, I think it’s wonderful news.
My concern, however, is how much something like this would cost the average same-sex couple?
Sure it’s great, but if the procedure ends up in the tens of thousands, it’s unrealistic.
Alexis Barros
For the ultra rich who can afford this procedure done.
Ron Jackson
Wow! Here is the exciting part ” the cell mistakes that occur with age, are wiped out”. Not only would this allow gay couples to have children but straight couples could have kids without all the genetic flaws. It’s a win, win for all.
Glücklich
Just no. No for so many reasons.
Adopt if you want kids so badly. If some country or agency doesn’t want to place a kid with gay parents, it’s the agency’s loss. Find another one that will adopt to gay people.
I don’t have or want kids. Before we got married I told my husband if somehow it came to pass we/he wound up as guardians of any of his nieces or nephews, I’d divorce him.
Daveliam
I think this is exciting news. I can’t wait to read more about it. On a practical level, there’s about a ZERO percent chance that I’ll ever be able to afford this option myself, but, as a science geek, I’m happy to see innovations like this one occurring.
Nahald
Then it seems to me that if they can do that, it shoots down one main reason for the homophobes, that both men/women cannot biologically reproduce .
Billy Budd
Who said God did not create Adam and Steve? Now we can procreate.
Kameron Martinez
Kevin Kantor
alterego1980
@Glücklich: I’m sad for you that your hatred of children (of which you once were), even potentially orphaned in-laws, would trump your love for your husband.
Glücklich
@alterego1980:
For the record, I do not “hate” children. I don’t wish them ill. But I know my limits and they do not extend to children. I am certain my husband is the second to last person to want to be saddled with kids, after me.
Hyakinthos
@Ron Jackson: Unfortunately this is not the case, Genetic abnormalities and epigenetic changes are two separate issues. What Azim Surani says is a little misleading in this context. It seems they have found a way to remove the epigenetic makers on somatic cells so as to make them psuedo-germ cells, which is essential for the transformation of skin cells into viable gametes. There are a few heritable epigenetic diseases that could be eliminated by this technique, however, to my knowledge they are a bit rare.
jwtraveler
Have scientists cured all the deadly diseases in the world, stopped global warming, replaced fossil fuels with renewable energy and figured out how to feed all the hungry people in the world and are now left with nothing else to do but create frankenchildren for rich, narcissistic gay couples?
What’s next? Implanting artificial wombs in men so they can become pregnant? How much further do we have to take this obsession with emulating heterosexuals?
How about adopting some of the many existing children and giving something to the world instead of just trying to get as much as you can from it?
Ron Jackson
@Hyakinthos: Thanks for clearing that up. It’s still good news though; imo.
Chris
Since men have both X and Y chromosomes, it would seem that they could actually father both males and females; whereas women would be limited to mothering only females. Interesting.
Brian Crim
YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!! #SOEXCITED!!!!
Ryan Piper
Justin Gooch Borden Lmt
onthemark
@Glücklich: You remind me of someone famous.
“I DO like children. As long as they are properly cooked.” – W.C. Fields
Arcamenel
As someone who was adopted, it pains me whenever couples overlook adoption as an option. There are hundreds of thousands of kids who will never know the love of a family because everyone wants their kids to look like them. The longer a child is in the system the less likely they are to ever be adopted.
That being said the adoption process for same-sex couples needs to be improved tremendously so those who are willing to adopt and can provide for a child aren’t deterred.
muscular
This news is incredible. I always felt gay men could not unify around a child because the biological characteristics found in the sperm of both men could not be combined to fertilize a female egg. Now the resulting child will resemble both of them. If an egg could be created from the cells of both men, then the men could ensure that the child would only have the physical traits of both of them. This would be an important consideration for large, athletic men who want a fit and large child.
Bauhaus
@Arcamenel:
We never thought twice about adopting. We did it in the late 90s, when gay adoption wasn’t exactly mainstream. It wasn’t an easy process, but what helped us, I believe, is that we didn’t adopt an infant. The courts and social services were surprisingly cooperative (in the south) and we were very fortunate that we didn’t run into any obstacles.
Glücklich
@onthemark:
My husband and I still occasionally get “Oh but you could give a child such a wonderful home!”
Huh? Based on what? Clearly anyone who would say such a thing does not know us at all.
I always respond with “No. I have nice furniture and rugs.”
Me2
Ewwe this sounds very creepy and extremely ambitious.
jwtraveler
@Arcamenel: I agree 100% as you can read above, but it’s always good to hear from someone who has had a personal experience.
onthemark
@jwtraveler: “What’s next? Implanting artificial wombs in men so they can become pregnant?”
Anyone who would want to do this is already a self-absorbed c u n t !
flexdoc
This is going too far.
stranded
It’s difficult for someone like me who is pro adoption to not want to shame people who want to pay for this or even support this. What is it about genes that makes certain people feel like it’s the only way to love a child?