A Utah-based startup called Paterna Biosciences claims it has grown functional human sperm in a lab and used these cells to create healthy-looking embryos. This breakthrough could potentially aid men with certain types of infertility in having biological children.

The process involves extracting stem cells from testicular tissue, nurturing them into mature sperm in a dish, and then using these lab-grown sperm to fertilize eggs. While the technique has not yet been peer-reviewed or independently verified, it marks a significant step forward in the field of in vitro spermatogenesis.

This development could revolutionise fertility treatment for men with no viable sperm, providing an alternative to invasive procedures and potentially circumventing some of the obstacles currently faced by those seeking biological parenthood. However, further research is needed before this technology can be widely used in clinics.