Scientists in China have successfully grown fully functioning mice sperm in a lab in a move that experts say could be one step closer to solving male fertility problems. The viable mouse sperm were grown in a petri dish using a new technique with skin cells. The sperm cells were then used to fertilise IVF mouse eggs to produce healthy, fertile offspring, which went on to have their own offspring by natural conception. RT reports: The scientific success in mice may make it possible one day, at least in theory, for doctors to turn human skin cells into sperm that could carry DNA to the offspring. “If proven to be safe and effective in humans, our platform could potentially generate fully functional sperm for artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization techniques,” according to co-senior study author Jiahao Sha from Nanjing Medical University. The discovery is creating a huge buzz in the medical community, as a lot of the current treatments are failing to help couples having problems conceiving. “Because currently available treatments do not work for many couples, we hope that our approach could substantially improve success rates for male infertility,” Jiahao Sha said. The study was published in [...]