According to LA Times’ Booster Shots, IPS cells have been coaxed into becoming germ cells that could allow infertile couples to conceive from healthy sperm and egg cells.
Of course, this experiment is a long way from being safely or effectively performed in humans and like with most stem cell reprogramming, the process involves viruses that prevent their implantation into humans without concerns about causing cancers and other serious health problems.
The advantage: egg and sperm bearing genetic material from the parents, all from skin cells of Mommy and Daddy!
While this research is remarkable, the study’s own author remarked that the same work could be done more safely and reliably if using embryonic stem cells with less chance for uncontrolled growth or mutations. For this reason, even she argues the funding of embryonic stem cell research is crucial.
Summer Johnson, PhD