Artificial wombs, cloning, IVF, and other reproductive technology

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Human skin DNA fertilised to make embryo for first time

30 September 2025, 16:01 BST

US scientists have, for the first time, made early-stage human embryos by manipulating DNA taken from people's skin cells and then fertilising it with sperm.

The technique could overcome infertility due to old age or disease, by using almost any cell in the body as the starting point for life.

It could even allow same-sex couples to have a genetically related child.

The method requires significant refinement - which could take a decade - before a fertility clinic could even consider using it.

Experts said it was an impressive breakthrough, but there needed to be an open discussion with the public about what science was making possible.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g2vyee0zlo



Credit: OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks

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https://thehill.com/homenews/5561456-tr ... reactions/

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Columbia researchers report first successful pregnancy using AI-guided sperm recovery method

Columbia University Irving Medical CenterOct 31 2025

Researchers at the Columbia University Fertility Center reported the first successful pregnancy using an AI-guided method they developed to recover sperm in men with azoospermia, in which ejaculate contains little or no sperm.

The case is described in a research letter published in The Lancet.

Male factors account for approximately 40% of couples with infertility. Of those, about 10-15% of men with infertility have azoospermia.

A semen sample can appear totally normal, but when you look under the microscope you discover just a sea of cellular debris, with no sperm visible. Many couples with male-factor infertility are told they have little chance of having a biological child."

Zev Williams, senior author of the paper and Director of the Columbia University Fertility Center

Men with azoospermia may undergo a procedure to have sperm surgically extracted from the testes, but the procedure is often unsuccessful and can cause vascular problems, inflammation, or a temporary decrease in testosterone levels.   

A few specialized labs employ technicians to manually inspect semen samples - a lengthy and expensive process - after they have been processed with a centrifuge or other agents that can damage sperm.

"The field has really been challenged to find a better way to identify and retrieve viable sperm cells in men with exceedingly low sperm counts," Williams says. 

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20251 ... ethod.aspx

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https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28289436/?ref_=ttrt_htmp