A team of scientists has created mice with two biological fathers by creating eggs from male cells – leading to significant new possibilities in the field of fertility. The work was developed at Japan’s Kyushu University, recognized as a pioneer in the field.
“This is the first case of robust mammalian oocytes being produced from male cells,” research leader Katsuhiko Hayashi said in a presentation at the Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing at the Francis Institute Crick today Wednesday. London. The study has already been submitted for publication in a scientific journal.
The researcher predicts that it will be technically possible to create a viable human egg from a male skin cell within a decade, while other experts classify this view as optimistic because viable human eggs have not yet been created from female cells. British newspaper “The Guardian” reports.
“In terms of technology, is it possible? [nos humanos] Ten years from now”, Hayashi promises, if it is proven safe, he will be in favor of the medically used technology to have two boys.
But the main motivation for the investigation is another: the possibility of using the technique in the treatment of severe forms of infertility, including women with Turner syndrome – characterized by a partial or total lack of the X chromosome.
To achieve this result, the team transformed a skin cell, a combination of a male XY chromosome with a female XX version, into an egg. “The trick is to duplicate the X chromosome,” notes Hayashi.
After the eggs were fertilized, about 600 embryos were obtained and implanted into mice, from which seven little mice were born. The baby mice were healthy, had normal life spans and, as adults, produced offspring.
This is the first time that viable eggs have been grown from male cells: scientists have already technically bred mice with two biological parents, but using steps involving gene editing. Now, Hayashi’s team is trying to replicate this feat with human cells.
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