Technology is getting upgraded at lightning speed each day. From marrying AI partners to normalizing IVF pregnancies, people are becoming more and more independent, thanks to technology and medical science. But have you ever thought about how same-gender couples or single individuals can become parents? Of course, adoption is an option but what if we told you they can now conceive to have their own babies? Yes, the solution has come, and here’s what it is.
We all know that a child is born when the male reproductive cell (sperm) fertilizes the female reproductive cell (egg). But in the future, a child could be born even if the sperm or egg isn’t available. Such children will be made in laboratories by ‘reprogramming’ other cells, such as skin cells! Shocking. Well, according to the UK’s Human Fertilisation and Embryo Authority (HFEA), scientists are working on in-vitro gametogenesis (IVGs) which is the medical term for this process.
Research on IVGs, commonly known as lab-grown eggs or sperms, is advancing rapidly. The procedure is on its way to being tested on humans. The tests on mice are however successful as scientists have successfully produced a baby from two biological fathers. If the human test is successful, the need for s*x to produce a baby might be eliminated in less than a decade. This will be a ray of hope for several individuals like men with low sperm counts, women with low ovarian reserve, same-gender couples, those in multi-partnered relationships, and even the ones who want to become single parents.
The UK fertility watchdog HFEA has officially announced they are close to growing human eggs and sperm in a lab. This groundbreaking fertility development might become the “holy grail” of childbearing in the future. With lab-grown sperm and eggs, people may soon be able to conceive a child on their own. This means babies could be made by just one person supplying both components from their skin or stem cells. The technology will eliminate age restrictions on childbearing and will also support ‘multiplex parenting’. However, experts are cautioning that the risk of genetic disorders might significantly increase owing to this technology. That’s because using one person’s DNA eliminates the natural backup that’s usually provided by both biological parents for a child’s safety.
Every technology does have some pros and cons. However, if the concept is as revolutionary as this, changing the norms of the world, experts will soon come up with solutions to these cons too. So, are you ready to witness a real-life Gattaca in about 10 years?
