The Secret Lives of Stem Cells
I guess this is good news: Scientists in Germany have crafted synthetic sperm from stem cells. This breakthrough could eventually aid in fertility treatments. ETA to market: 3 to 5 years.
In case you forgot (I kinda did) a stem cell is the shape-shifter of the molecular world, able to transmogrify into any number of specialized cells. The embryonic kind has the President's knickers all in a twist. These ain't that kind.
OK, here's what I really want to know: These stem cells could have been anything, ranging from red blood cells to brain cells to eyeball cells. Useful cells with long lives. Yet the scientists "coaxed" them into becoming sperm, the molecular equivalent of a kamikaze pilot. How? We're thinking red meat and potato cells, teeny tiny little copies of Playboy centerfolds, umm, maybe Nascar? Spike TV? Janet Jackson's Superbowl halftime show wardrobe malfunction?
And I wonder why my husband thinks I don't understand him.
Scientists create synthetic sperm cells [MSNBC]
Beer. You forgot beer.