next Great Leap Forward: single-sex procreation

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Apr 13, 2007

A British scientist thinks that she can enable women to produce sperm, using stem cells drawn from their own bone marrow. The process-- which has already provided promising results in treating men with fertility problems-- could make it possible for lesbian couples to produce their own biological offspring.

It might be possible. But you're wondering: Is it ethical? Funny you should ask:

Scientists are seeking ethical permission to produce synthetic sperm cells from a woman's bone marrow tissue...

But to whom-- or should I say, to Whom-- do you apply for ethical permission?

Professor Karim Nayernia, of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, anticipated that question, too:

We need permission from the patient who supplied the bone marrow, the ethics committee and the hospital itself.

Let's see: the patient, who wants a baby; the hospital, which wants patrons and publicity; and the ethics committee, made up of scrupulous health-career professionals who are colleagues of Professor Nayernia. What are the odds, doc?

I don't think there is an ethical barrier, so long as it's safe.

Ah, yes: so long as it's safe. But how do you measure safety? Maybe it will work; maybe everyone involved will be healthy and happy. But eventually we all stand before the Judgment Seat, and you're not "safe" there if you suddenly realize that you didn't get quite the right level of ethical permission.