I recently ran across an article by Fiona Macrae written on October 29, 2009 from Mail Online entitled “No men OR women needed: Scientists create sperm and eggs from stem cells”. I proceeded to read this article before I read the actual scientific manuscript that it was based on; the article itself makes several very big claims: 1) the research could change the face of parenthood, 2) the research could be the cure for infertility and 3) it may soon be possible for children to be born through entirely artificial means. For the last few years, there have been several outrageous media outlets that make a practice of taking an interesting scientific manuscript and sensationalizing it as a cure for infertility, etc.

Egg and Sperm Image: Alison Kim

I continued on and read the original scientific paper they were describing in the column, “Human DAZL, DAZ and BOULE genes modulate primordial germ-cell and haploid gamete formation;” an article published in this month’s issue of Nature. It truly is a super paper describing the role the DAZL, DAZ, and BOULE genes play in the progression of embryonic stem cells to primordial germ cells (PGCs) and the subsequent development into a haploid gamete. Interestingly, this group isolated fluorescently-tagged PGCs that were developed from embryonic stem cells in culture (previously shown), but for the first time demonstrated that DAZL, DAZ, and BOULE are upregulated in order to induce these PGCs to begin meiosis and then arrest at early prophase of meiosis I.

What the scientific paper did not describe, or even hint at, was that this science would be a cure for infertility.  What this paper does, however, is attempt to clarify another step in the process of early germ cell formation that may be used as a tool for elucidating critical steps in male and female infertility. There is not one simple solution to infertility. I urge all scientists and non-scientists to be objective about outrageous claims that are made about cures and answers and to read the actual scientific papers and find the true messages behind the science.

The other day my boyfriend’s mother gave me the current issue of Newsweek telling me that it contained an article I must read. She had the magazine opened to the article “Why I froze my eggs”. I thought to myself good lord, another journalist’s attempt to inaccurately document fertility preservation and assisted reproduction.  However, the article is very well written and it gave a first hand view of the pressures women are feeling about their fertility in today’s society as well as the correct steps a woman should take if they are considering these options. I checked out the company they mentioned in the article online and it turns out I had examined some test oocytes for spindle defects a few years back from this same group. At the time I know they were very sincere in their measures to find an alternative in Italy to freezing embryos (see http://www.the-scientist.com/news/20050614/01/).  I feel that the concept of oocyte freezing is directed more for young girls and women facing life threatening diseases over the lack of  ”finding Mr. Right”, however that is a personal choice made possible by new frontiers in reproductive biology.

One thing that was not mentioned in the article that I am puzzled by is that the author had 35 oocytes retrieved and only 8 of them were mature to freeze on the spot. Did they try to in vitro mature the remaining 28 or were they simply discarded?

My name is Dr. Susan L. Barrett and I am a basic scientist in the Woodruff Laboratory for the Oncofertility Consortium. I have a PhD in Development, Cellular and Molecular Biology, namely Reproduction as well as a MS in Tumor Biology. I am currently researching new frontiers in preserving fertility for women facing a cancer diagnosis. I will be blogging about basic reproductive biology, cell biology as well as cancer formation. I would like to give readers a better understanding of what is going on in their bodies at a cellular level. I will also discuss new, breakthrough publications in the world of oncofertility aswell as sharing exciting images and videos of our work. I am looking forward in sharing information with you as well as taking your comments and questions.