Scientists grow sperm in the laboratory
Discussion
Don't forget that discoveries such as this often help knowledge in other areas. Techniques learned here could, for example, have applications in growing other sorts of cells outside of the body, which in turn could help with disease or injury treatments. None of this stuff is isolated knowledge, it all adds to the whole.
Though I might agree that it wouldn't be a high priority on my list of things to study.
Though I might agree that it wouldn't be a high priority on my list of things to study.
Dr Jekyll said:
Can you give an example of a country that had a higher standard of living or life expectancy when the population was lower?
That seems to both miss the point and be right at the heart of it 
In what way do those indicators mean that overpopulation won't be an issue? Both aspects just mean we are depleting resources more quickly.People have been saying for years that fossil fuels will run out. They haven't yet, but bearing in mind how they are made, even allowing for new finds and extraction techniques you'd have to be pretty blinkered to think they won't run out at some point.
Same thing goes for overpopulation. There is a finite amount of habitable land. Technology may increase this over time, but it will still be finite. The population of the planet cannot therefore keep growing exponentially ad infinitum. It matters not whether it's the first, third or 42nd world that's causing the expansion. We all share the same space ultimately. Whether we all have a 50" plasma in every bedroom of our 5 bed detached is irrelevant
Of course these problems might not manifest themselves to directly impact *us* ever. It could be several generations before they hit home. I guess the question is, is it wise to do things that accelerate the onset of these issues?
I'm no tree hugger, but ultimately I suspect it isn't. Trouble is I find it hard to give a toss about something that might impact the planet in a few hundred years. Especially as I have a firm belief these days that nature will even things out eventually in no uncertain terms as it has done every time a species has become too dominant.
Perhaps if there weren't so many of us, we wouldn't be constantly harangued to reduce our use of fossil fuels?
Advances in infertility treatment are utterly irrelevant to overpopulation, though - I'd look instead to advances in agriculture, the provision of clean water and the control of infectious disease.
Advances in infertility treatment are utterly irrelevant to overpopulation, though - I'd look instead to advances in agriculture, the provision of clean water and the control of infectious disease.
Murph7355 said:
Dr Jekyll said:
But population isn't growing exponentially, in fact it's levelling off.
My understanding is that the growth *rate* may be decreasing...but it is still exponential.In developed countries such as Sweden where the population will be declining due to the low birth rates and low death rates. This more than made up for with developing and emerging market countries such as China, Brazil and India.
All in all the population is rising extremely fast, but at a reducing rate. The population will not decline globally in the next couple of hundred years except for a mass disease.
Dr Jekyll said:
MX7 said:
AJS- said:
What problems is this human overpopulation causing?
You don't think overpopulation is a problem? Do you not think that, with the present rate of growth, we will see some major problems in the next few decades?
MX7 said:
No, because most of the examples of a shrinking population I can think of are caused by war, disease or famine, which are not conducive to a high standard of living.
Do you not think that, with the present rate of growth, we will see some major problems in the next few decades?
No, certainly not if you factor in the fact that the growth rate is declining. Once people get used to the idea that their children are probably going to survive they tend to stop at 2 or 3. And supplying power water and medical care to a town of 100,000 people is not twice as difficult as supplying a town of 50,000.Do you not think that, with the present rate of growth, we will see some major problems in the next few decades?
strudel said:
One of the reasons for over population is due to third world countries producing lots of children to get over their high infant mortality rate. I don't think you'll find huge population growth in the developed world.
You see, I only know of one world, in English called Earth. Makes no difference where the overpopulation is on the planet and distinguishing between countries is meaningless.AJS- said:
What problems is this human overpopulation causing? We are more numerous than ever, and at least in material terms better off.
Malthus was worried about overpopulation 200 years ago and it hasn't happened yet. Certain areas may seem crowded but there are also vast swathes of totally untouched land that could be lived in.
Shortage of resources, including food and water, pollution for a start. Malthus was worried about overpopulation 200 years ago and it hasn't happened yet. Certain areas may seem crowded but there are also vast swathes of totally untouched land that could be lived in.
Most of the conflicts around the World are the result of people trying to keep hold of or steal resources. One way or another.
If a majority were prepared to exist in poverty in your vast swathes of land, you might be right but of course they aren't. Even the Chinese and Indian hordes have had enough of that.
Dr Jekyll said:
No, certainly not if you factor in the fact that the growth rate is declining. ...
Do you also write for politicians about the budget deficit? It appears to be a similar head in sand approach you're taking (the rate of growth is going down so it'll be fine).Yes, the rate of growth is decreasing - absolutely nothing to say it will continue to do so, let alone reach zero or reverse. The human population is still growing in itself by a massive amount each year (getting on for 1.5x the population of this country I believe).
DSM2 said:
strudel said:
One of the reasons for over population is due to third world countries producing lots of children to get over their high infant mortality rate. I don't think you'll find huge population growth in the developed world.
You see, I only know of one world, in English called Earth. Makes no difference where the overpopulation is on the planet and distinguishing between countries is meaningless.
Murph7355 said:
Dr Jekyll said:
No, certainly not if you factor in the fact that the growth rate is declining. ...
Do you also write for politicians about the budget deficit? It appears to be a similar head in sand approach you're taking (the rate of growth is going down so it'll be fine).Yes, the rate of growth is decreasing - absolutely nothing to say it will continue to do so, let alone reach zero or reverse. The human population is still growing in itself by a massive amount each year (getting on for 1.5x the population of this country I believe).
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