LONDON - The British government said Sunday that it will review a ban on the use of artificial sperm and eggs to induce human pregnancies.
British law currently allows the creation of so-called "artificial gametes" - sperm or eggs derived from other types of cells such as stem cells - for research but bars their use in assisted reproduction due to safety and ethical concerns.
The Department of Health said Sunday it has agreed to "look further into this matter."
"We recognize that there could be potential uses in assisted reproduction treatments, or in embryo research, for sperm or eggs derived from other cells. For example, in cases where a man was not able to produce sperm naturally, the development of artificial gametes could allow him to father a child," the department said in a statement.
Over the past few years, scientists reportedly have created egg and sperm precursor cells from embryonic mouse cells, raising the possibility that researchers might someday be able to manufacture human sperm and egg cells as well.
Some say the technique could also allow same-sex couples to have children carrying genetic material from both partners.
More controversially, it might also allow one person to create egg and sperm cells from their own tissue, effectively becoming the child's mother and father.
