Same-Sex Reproduction Using Stem Cell Technology | Natasha Natarajan | TEDxUSC

My story will be a casual and conversation talk about stem cells. Most talks about stem cells veer towards being too scientific and complicated for most general audiences to understand. I want to de-myth and de-mystify stem cells as well as discuss recent advances in research. My talk will center around cutting-edge research that uses stem cells to create biological children from same sex. Besides just explaining the science behind it in layman’s terms, I want to open a discussion about the ethical consequences such a technology would bring about. I hope to leave my audience with a taste of curiosity for stem cells but also a more critical eye into understanding the intricate ethical issues that surround it.
Since the age of 15, Natasha’s life purpose has revolved around the promise of stem cells. She is currently a senior majoring in Human Biology at USC while simultaneously pursuing a Master’s in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. When she isn’t running around juggling the pre-med life at USC, she is on the Health Sciences Campus working on cutting-edge research on the regeneration of cartilage as a potential cure for osteoarthritis. In 10 years, you will see Natasha as a full-fledged stem cell physician implementing translational medicine and bringing about more effective cures using transformative stem cell technology. But for the time being, Natasha lives an exciting life at USC serving as an SI leader to general chemistry students and guiding them through the perils of what it means to be pre-med. Beyond all the science that surrounds Natasha’s life, she enjoys listening to South African music, watching too much television, and reading mystery/crime fiction novels.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@sunsetsmiles6940]

Im hopeful that one day I could have a biological kid with my future wife. It would mean the absolute world to us both, since we’ve been dreaming about it for quite awhile We have to get through college first, so hopefully that’ll be enough time to develop this technology...

[@backstabboi4559]

Hope its possible

[@NwoDispatcher]

Yea let's make it all about you instead of asking what consequences it may have.

[@nesswhopees]

@@NwoDispatcher What consequences? And how are they being selfish?

[@anadd6195]

Omg yes!!! 😀😍

[@animationdramanation5730]

@@NwoDispatcher You sound exactly like the people who were against IVF.

[@dumpling3309]

I mean it's obviously going to be expensive and stem biologists doing this kind of work will be earning a lot.

[@kennedyhenderson7663]

Time to go to stem cell school

[@cherryenthusiast]

Don’t wanna be that guy but I don’t think this a good way to spend money don’t get me wrong people should be able to have children of whoever they want but maybe we should focus on more life threatening things like poverty , finding another habitable planet for humans to use if the earth ever ends and finding a cure for corona but I think after we’re finished with all that then we go to more personal things such as being able have a child biologically with someone of the same gender or even focus on children education

[@freakyferret8308]

@@cherryenthusiast Why not both? You talk like 'we' is some kind of unified force, we're not. If we were, none of those things you mentioned would be an issue. There are plenty of worse places to spend money, if you ask me.

[@cherryenthusiast]

@@freakyferret8308 KZbin removed my reply smh

[@antony3846]

Not gonna be expensive when you yourself are gonna be a stem biologist 😎

[@anadd6195]

I don't want designer babies. I want to have a baby with my wife. If they are special needs that's okay. People are beautiful in their differences.

[@edensong8311]

My trans Boyfriend and I have been talking about wanting to have a child, he sent me this and I absolutely love the idea of having our very own child that is a mix of him and I.

[@sydneyai8506]

Ico Wolf aww how sweet I hope it works out for you guys!

[@NwoDispatcher]

I love the idea of getting rid of my mixed-status and breed out my African genetics

[@aries2359]

You mean your girlfriend?

[@edensong8311]

@@aries2359 female to male, so boyfriend :b

[@katieholbrook2673]

Jevie the boyfriend is trans :)

[@megmoore6708]

This is so awesome! I didn't know Stem Cells were making so much progress.

[@KC-pm1fv]

Loved it. I hope it's available soon

[@gregfeingold8054]

Natasha you're amazing!

[@yuminchen6146]

How long do we have to wait for this though?

[@lonelywanderer1114]

at this rate, it will come out the same day as flying cars

[@Alnecaser]

@@lonelywanderer1114 oh damn, they just tested flying cars this year

[@angelloperez7273]

@@lonelywanderer1114 ironically, japan has already designed a flying Motorcicle. I think this says it all.

[@AW-zv2to]

hopefully within 20 years so I can use it one day 😩

[@danmulholland1634]

According to Dr Sherman Silber we are 5-10 years away from IVG being available for peopletafter FDA and CDC carefully review It taking it all in consideration i persoannly don't see this being anymore them 20 years away from now

[@andrewjoslyn9835]

I hope the skin on the palm of my hand don't become egg cells, that would be awkward.

[@niky5052]

I want another copy of myself. We would vibe

[@federicacerri8766]

Few years ago I red about mitocondrial DNA that allow two women to join their genes into a baby girl (it would not be possible into a boy, since the mitocondrial DNA and the female egg cell do not carry Y). If I am not wrong this was an Australian research.

[@yourbutler9988]

did it really exist or theories only??

[@diatifofana1734]

Say hey sebastion

[@karionparks3048]

@@yourbutler9988 theories

[@shekharchowdhary]

Yeah, I read about it.

[@heylove582]

The video game told us our future (The Sims 4)

[@bororusrooroo8010]

Rip Y chromosome

[@ellecbundy]

yes please

[@basedman741]

I just came to see all the toxic people in the comments who love the idea of playing God.

[@Unique-ko2ze]

Amazing

[@MyAliceTube]

I used to think i didnt want kids, but if i can have a biological kid with my future wife one day🥺🥺

[@user-pp4zw9lm6j]

CAN’T WAIT!!!!

[@henkysenkar4855]

There is a chance of a gay couple having a YY child!! õ-o Would the baby survive?

[@natashanatarajan5649]

sadly no it wouldn't. Although I am sure that doctors would notice the YY embryo and give a second go early in the process -Natasha

[@paleobc65]

I’m pretty sure they have to create a XY or XX child

[@joshschaub2302]

No. But actually men carry an x chromosome as well as a y chromosome s and while women may only be able to produce women but I'm not 100% I'm not a geneticist

[@elyselysie2862]

Henky Senkar no, because EVERY living person MUST have an X to survive.

[@fameone7789]

@@elyselysie2862 get down

[@SEVEN-mc2dm]

I find it fascinating that if this works out, women can have baby girls together, choose who will carry them, give birth and then breastfeed. It just sounds divine ✨

[@marsnavarrocasas9354]

BRING ALBINO RHINOS OUT OF THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION

[@drstone3431]

Albino Rhinos are genetic mutations(Mistakes in Genes) in dna. They are not a different species from Rhinos but a damage in DNA. Hence they don't exist or survive in the environment like natural Rhinos do. Albino Rhinos Die from Sun exposure hence they are usually kept in Captivity. If you look at images of Albino animals like Albino lions, rhinos, Albino pigeon(also known as Doves), etc. they usually die from the heat of the Sun rays.

[@NwoDispatcher]

Albinos are beautiful creatures, salty melanated creatures dont understand

[@carlinisatnirvana8499]

sure why not

[@heylove582]

This is the sims 4

[@nazigol289]

can u send me what u mean?

[@leahgachaproductions]

I'm just a bi girl who doesn't want children at all and I'm just here for the comments lol

[@onesyphorus]

They've been saying this for years now...

[@objectionable6693]

Have there been any updates, five years later?

[@male6089]

Wow i really want that thats awesome

[@stevenquiroz9556]

I hope this technology will be available for us that are lgbt before I graduate from school

[@sasukeuchiha4814]

Y just have a kid narually this is such a bad idea

[@linhgiang937]

@@sasukeuchiha4814 what if we can't:(?

[@sasukeuchiha4814]

@@linhgiang937 that’s hella sad but why would you wanna bring a genetically modified baby into the world if I was a kid made in the lab I would feel some type away

[@AW-zv2to]

@@sasukeuchiha4814 Ivf babies are made in labs and they’ve been around since the 70s

[@AW-zv2to]

@@sasukeuchiha4814 and this is also super helpful for infertile people, like my aunts always wanted children but her ovaries don’t make any eggs and it was super hard for her to even find a husband because guys didn’t want to be with her when they found out she couldn’t have kids.

[@kennap9281]

That's a bummer I wanted boys too

[@rogerfish2585]

I feel you.

[@Alexa-pc6ux]

@@sweetpea766 Ironic

[@Alexa-pc6ux]

@Roman No?

[@jep3011]

I thought this only worked for women I didn't know you could do the same thing with men too, nice.

[@cherryenthusiast]

I wonder how that would work....

[@ladyjessica8791]

Is there a hospital that does this

[@CreepyRecordings]

So when it becoming a reality🥳? Please make it happen before 2025 I wanna have kids before 30

[@taopanda98]

I would like it to be before 40 years old, basically before 2038 xD I am currently 22 years old.

[@verenant4567]

@@taopanda98 i will be 40 , 2045

[@angelloperez7273]

I got a feeling we would see this working in humans without problem in 2024.

[@Shutyourmouth20]

There is no progress at all. it’s blank and isn’t working. there’s no point and the idea was dropped by most scientists.

[@shane7205]

@@angelloperez7273 love your optimistoc view !!

[@kennypoomwa]

i hope this technology advances by the time im ready for kids 😞

[@dd6908]

hope it advances soon 💕

[@AW-zv2to]

sameee 😩

[@danmulholland1634]

According to Dr Sherman silber we are 5-10 years away I know and seen alit of people with infertile issues and its a very heartbreaking curse of life for those in the 12% out there I persoannly can see this being available no more then 20 years from now

[@veryconfused9768]

I think this is how lord Shiva and Vishnu...both gender male...had a child in the mythology and the child was Hermaphrodite if I remember. Anyway all those mythological stories are coming to life by help of science.I hope I see this technology before I die. There are so many of these mythologies..like that woman having 100 child's out of her womb...She gave birth to some sort of mass of cell and then it was placed in a pot each that worked as womb.Then she got 100 kids all males and one girl if I remember correctly....and that one mythology when the guy ate his father's brain and gets all his wisdom and so on(this one is creepy)

[@shane7205]

Wtf!

[@makaroshka6680]

Thats so amazing i cried

[@sasukeuchiha4814]

How

[@makaroshka6680]

@@sasukeuchiha4814 well when People are touched by something, they sometimes cry. I Was deeply touched because I am happy for the chace All LGBTQ+ people may get so soon.

[@clangsoriano1505]

Is there any update regard in this, hope it will happen very soon

[@Shutyourmouth20]

No, infact it was dropped. there’s no longer any attempt to do this because stem cells seem to only revert back if necessary. otherwise it’s biologically impossible.

[@garimasharma4636]

By this is it also possible to have a single parent child?

[@dianabosco3911]

Teorically yes, it would be a clone of his parent (fisically at least, not mentally)

[@marsnavarrocasas9354]

clone time 😎

[@bororusrooroo8010]

Yes

[@backstabboi4559]

Chromosomes?

[@Me-rd7po]

it is posible but iligal

[@ivansoto1575]

Bruh everyone in the comments talking about their girlfriend or boyfriend all have furry profile pics

[@sargerful]

We furry love science

[@nazigol289]

I'm 26 now too old to reach this technology

[@vitrend3967]

Vinod returns

[@1cannedpeaches]

This is super exciting to me as a bi woman

[@sasukeuchiha4814]

😭😭😭that’s sad these ppl are playing god

[@ACDnut101]

@@sasukeuchiha4814 We have already been playing god, this is just the next step

[@IgorNetoAnimation]

@@sasukeuchiha4814 You've played god all your life, don't act like you get to draw the line here.

[@fvai8203]

OK we can change into an egg cell, but where are we going to put the fertilized egg? In tube?

[@annjen8405]

Artificial wombs are available.

[@sharingthebestican5435]

Well something cannot be believed unless it happens

[@anadd6195]

Omg that's amazing 😱

[@mostlyreviews5535]

👍👍👍

[@kkichiuma4747]

14:32

[@scarce2x220]

The baby gonna come out an alien

[@Zerum69]

Wait this means you can create a YY human... Right?

[@fishfrick8921]

Well yes but actually no. It would start to form but it would die.

[@sibeliusan]

no

[@a_gummyw33]

All these new technological advancements and doctors still can't find a cure for cancer?:(

[@angelloperez7273]

There have been multiple advances in the cure of cancer, but cancer treatment makes money so the pharma would not allow it.

[@IgorNetoAnimation]

That's because those are two different areas. Cancer is WAY more difficult and confusing.

[@zsidontknowwhattoname4395]

It only survives for 2 weeks

[@qqpprince1614]

🧚‍♀️🤝🏾✨Science is evolving✨🤝🏾🧚‍♀️

[@noahsawyer7155]

Princewill Chiemelie Nwajide not fast enough

[@Nick-tl8ot]

Wait could you make an ovary out of stem cells? Could that be possible?

[@angelloperez7273]

Yes it is possible (at least in theory), it's called in vitro GAMETOGENESIS.

[@Shutyourmouth20]

@@angelloperez7273 it’s one of the most rejected theories in biology. there are so many negative aspects of changing such and stem cells only convert back if it is biologically needed for an organism to develop. it’s still set in stone. after biologists tried to manually change a stem cell it was in vain and even in environmental situations the stem cell wouldn’t change again. it only changes once and only for elimination of genetic mutations in offspring.

[@AW-zv2to]

They actually made mouse testicles revert into ovaries, there’s a gene they found that causes them to switch.

[@swarnadipmitra1095]

Absolutely

[@backstabboi4559]

Could you call the baby human then

[@qqpprince1614]

Yes

[@anthonybundy5262]

I feel like this isn't going to work. The baby might come out disfigured and disformed

[@animationdramanation5730]

It will work. I recommend looking up the experiment done by Japanese scientist IVG on mice.

[@youunfriendlyoutlaw4691]

Animation DramaNation they said the same thing on a cancer drug that worked very efficiently on mice. But when tested on humans, it gave the person kidney failure.... Just because it works on mice does not mean it will work on humans.

[@animationdramanation5730]

@@youunfriendlyoutlaw4691 So are you saying we should never test anything again? No longer trying to find cancer treatments anyting? If humans had that mentality to where they became scared of a few failures we I would have never gotten as far as we have gotten get over your fear.

[@youunfriendlyoutlaw4691]

Animation DramaNation you clearly twisted my words to make me look like the bad guy, once again and read this closely, *just because an experiment works on a mouse, does not mean it will work on a human.*

[@animationdramanation5730]

@@youunfriendlyoutlaw4691 I didn't twist your words that's what you implied just because of a few failures does that mean we should give up? That's what you're saying. We have to take chances let go of your fear if we gave into what you are implying a lot of people wouldn't be here right now. Look for the positives not the negatives.

[@nangteibor9484]

Hm2 be careful

[@backstabboi4559]

Wait isn't it only men can produce x and y so hmmmmmmm i don't know

[@claireekwall3244]

The offspring would only be female but it would still work.

[@NojoNinja]

This will probably exist but not anytime soon. The child will only live about 2 weeks because of missing genes. But, it is possible.

[@annjen8405]

@@NojoNinja why don't you know that girls are made of xx chromosomes and you know what the experiment has been successfully completed in mice and the two male mice had a healthy and fertile offsprings who also went on to have their own offsprings . The experiment was also successful with two female mice.

[@cincinnatias]

Sounds diabolical.

[@anythingclbm]

I could finally have a child with myself

[@harddgril546]

Please tex or tranlate to indonesia

[@potatop172]

It'd be sad if you were to do this and your child literally came out with different cells or even organs....

[@potatop172]

Too bad you'd never be able to have a boy.....

[@saffronstuffie434]

@@potatop172 not yet.

[@CamJones2000]

Star Noodles oh not yet huh? 🤦‍♂️

[@potatop172]

@Nabila Nabila I made that sound very bad but what I meant was, I never gave them the chance to be born what they wanted in the first place.

[@annjen8405]

@@potatop172 Why would you think that somebody wants to be born. I never wanted to be born. I don't remember doing so.

[@lyberthiaume4987]

Me waching this what do female do

[@fiyachildtarot291]

At 7 I was watching eptopic pregnancy removal.... Wow I've wasted my life 😭

[@cerverg]

that's pretty much the beginning of the end of males and Y chromosomes

[@sombraelerizo]

@@Iwant-truth I suppose you're being sarcastic.

[@deeplorable8988]

Why is that?

[@UnfamiliarIntimacy]

Dee Plorable It's not. People think the extinction of males is coming because of this, it isn't. This will turn out like every other attempt at scientists trying to play by nature/God's rules. It won't go according to plan and something will go wrong as usual.

[@UnfamiliarIntimacy]

Tammy Tam How is that a good thing?

[@bororusrooroo8010]

@@UnfamiliarIntimacy We're sexist I guess?

[@Marshytwt1]

.....I’d rather keep it natural....

[@animationdramanation5730]

You sound like the people from the past that didn't like IVF.

[@DLCS-2]

@@oddtxddler5363they are smart

[@draysaintjohn8093]

I don’t think this will be possible :/

[@vania7988]

The baby finna come out like UGUGHGJFHAHUSUFJDX

[@DLCS-2]

No it won't.

[@gmuzica4742]

Lol half of these people have anime pfp 😂

[@potatop172]

Wait.. Can guys get pregnant? 3:14 Why's the image two guys hold up..

[@saffronstuffie434]

I'm pretty sure they're talking about in the future, they might not be able to do it now but they're still working on it.

[@yuminchen6146]

@Dead Archer Men have XY, so 2 men XY + XY could become either XX (girl) or XY(boy). But Girls are XX, so XX + XX = 100% XX (girl)

[@listenluo2333]

dear,man is XY,not YY

[@vigilantone5961]

I'm pretty sure she said a surrogate would be needed... The two men would only need a girl to carry their baby thought that doesn't mean that the child will be related to the surrogate, she'd just be the carrier in this case, the child would only be related to the 2 men, genetically.

[@tisko7188]

@@vigilantone5961 artificial womb

[@CanChikMay]

awesome!!! genetic engineering...?? that maY NOT BE GOOD

[@Shutyourmouth20]

Tested? Supported? Actually all tests conclusions in mice give a very different answer than she gives.

[@fiyachildtarot291]

Honey u can do it for woman not men because only God knows what an YY will create.... Humanity was originated thru woman XX can work not necessarily YY so jim n Bob may not have strides here

[@kristinakane7968]

Unless there are complications, an egg cell would not contain a Y chromosome - so it would still be XY or XX.

[@kristinakane7968]

But I agree, birth defects are almost certain with this type of research.

[@annjen8405]

@@kristinakane7968 But the natural method also has caused no less birth defects.

[@keithfroese4749]

Ye but you don't have actual proof, thats just a theory.

[@anna_banana414]

i mean, to be fair, everything began as a theory so who knows, within the next 100 years or whatever this could be a reality and actually progress along with it also

[@jamelbunny5732]

A GAME THEORY

[@anapancicpe4188]

You are so beutiful !!!

[@tadpolman8069]

YOOOO ME AND THE HOMIES CAN HAVE A BABY!!!!!!!!! Just imagine how much of a beast a male x male baby would be, WE COULD MAKE A LIVING GOD

[@DLCS-2]

You can't have a baby with two male chromosomes.

[@ethanw5231]

@@DLCS-2 did you even watch the video?

[@tylerstanley1879]

How about nah.

[@qqpprince1614]

Why?

[@prometheusplays3789]

Ima be honest guys this sounds like complete bs

[@diatifofana1734]

How will this work for men if a mans body isn’t designed for being pregnant men don’t have wombs vaginas etc So how is that gonna work if you pissed out a human that would be horrible

[@DLCS-2]

No , the baby won't be putted on a man's body, cuz man don't have ovaries.

[@tisko7188]

Artificial womb

[@medievalarmorexptert6827]

But people do realize how deformed the babies would be? They would maybe live an hour.

[@chivae2327]

Notice how it's all men crying about this lmfao

[@syafiraharijani7355]

Well ur assumption is wrong..

[@KyleMinaj23]

Notice how you only got 4 likes💀

[@karenslivesmatter2186]

Bruh stop crying

[@chivae2327]

@@karenslivesmatter2186 pointing out something isn't crying but I guess you don't know the difference since you do that all the time

[@chivae2327]

@@KyleMinaj23 notice how u got none

[@Ch0obyHD]

How can women see this and be like "wow this is great" don't you feel bad?

[@Chris-pd3ik]

SpaceCowboy98 why would they feel bad

[@sophie_manophie820]

No?

[@beecat9038]

?

[@animationdramanation5730]

@Hopeless Romantic IVF aren't natural either but yet here we are.

[@davepop8192]

Animation DramaNation what’s ivf?

[@alejandrogarcia43]

Bruh that baby will live for 2 weeks

[@bororusrooroo8010]

Too bad they'll be extremely deformed

[@jigglemahnut6493]

Why can’t y’all do it naturally oh wait you csnt

[@DLCS-2]

That is why people are trying to do it, genius .

[@OneManKruOfficial]

How about...Let's not play God. And let's keep things the way God intended them.

[@mangplamatadavonyiurs7678]

Shut up

[@ncw3839]

God, who?

[@IAmMiaElizabeth]

Facts

[@KILLERMEDIACLUB]

God intended evolution. Drop

[@aaron399]

lmao right? sick nd tired of all these cancer treatments nd hospitals.. if god intended them to die then they die!!

[@davepop8192]

Aside from religion this idea just seems so weird and would have extreme consequences on the baby itself 🥴

[@onesyphorus]

10:13 girl I puked and cringed when you said _"Desiigner Babieeesss"_ and thought you were all cute. Just a total NO-No

[@seniorbeezy8817]

Go make me some dinner

[@nicholasjonas2505]

She does realize this is considered unethical in the scientific community right? Nobody wants to live as a genetic experiment. So this will never become commercially available.

[@DLCS-2]

What about IVF babies then ? There have been more than 5 million baby's conceived outside of the body , and they aren't experiments.

[@nicholasjonas2505]

@@DLCS-2 that was to save them. THIS is purly by choice. This would make experiments

[@chriswilliams6281]

Stop trying to play god

[@saffronstuffie434]

No thanks :)

[@_sarcasticc4535]

How???

[@blazefl4me]

stop telling people what to do

[@andrewjoslyn9835]

It's God who needs to stop playing us.

[@Nkr565]

Why I gave us the knowledge then

[@jr.istoo.small1344]

Y’all doing a big mistake god is coming very soon very soon just wait

[@SpockLover27]

You've all been saying that for ages.

[@DLCS-2]

God is stuck in traffic.

[@theautodidactlife2322]

Thats insanse ,is against nature

[@DLCS-2]

No it is not.

[@GEnghis559]

@@DLCS-2 technically speaking, we as a society, thrive for greatness to the point where the unthinkable is thinkable. Therefore we’re God

[@IgorNetoAnimation]

@@GEnghis559 You're stuck in such a narcissistic view that hinders the great person you could potentially be, leave it behind because we humans are just as fragile as many other species, one bad asteroid and we're wiped off the map.

[@BigB_16]

No no no that's wrong this isn't meant to happen that should never happen God doesn't want this

[@matthewrichard9626]

What gives you the right to speak on behalve of God?

[@BigB_16]

@@matthewrichard9626 I'm in america freedom of speech bud if you have something to say how bout you talk to george washington himself

[@DLCS-2]

@@BigB_16 freedom of speech isn't about trashing other people and insulting them.

[@BigB_16]

@@DLCS-2 and I did that where?

[@gaycausesoneisparentalnegl309]

This is a sick idea.

[@partyrobot416]

you're the sick one... Try a better argument for why you are against it.

[@justme2991]

You are sick

[@yuminchen6146]

Hey I thought sick meant fab these days. Like it's a sick beat.

[@thecringykids6204]

Chen Yumin read the persons username

[@annblack3146]

I understand gays and lesbians would love this but I think it's morally wrong for so many reasons.I think stem cell technology is wonderful if it can be used to save lives but anything other than that should not be tampered with although I am pretty certain it will be in the future sadly.

[@rg0057]

"morally wrong for so many reasons" And yet you give none...

[@LesShipsAhoy]

RetroSupporter93 thank you

[@jennypenticoff5674]

@@rg0057 read revolution and you will understand... But I'm sure your cognitive dissonance won't allow to open a bible

[@deeplorable8988]

@@jennypenticoff5674 Did you mean revelations? Although *revolution* may also be a problem

[@jrflproductions9352]

Why should i not be allowed to have a child with my partner?