Photo: Getty ImagesScientists in Japan have reportedly created mice with two biological fathers — with the hope to replicate the process in humans.While such a feat was possible before with genetic engineering, multiple outlets reported that the researchers were able togrow the egg cellsusing theskin cellsof two male mice.According toThe Guardian, scientistsmanipulated the geneticcode of stem cells created from the male mice to create mature eggs, which were then fertilized and implanted into a surrogate mouse, birthing seven pups (out of 630 transferred embryos,Naturejournal reported).Research directorKatsuhiko Hayashi, of Kyushu University andOsaka University, presented the findings (which have not yet been published) at theThird International Summiton Human Genome Editing this week, perNaturejournal, telling attendees that this fertilization process could be replicated for same-sex couples in the future.“I don’t know whether they’ll be available for reproduction,” Hayashi said, according toThe Guardian. “Purely in terms of technology, it will be possible [in humans] even in 10 years.“RELATED VIDEO: Scientists Find Intact 5-Foot Alligator Inside 18-Foot-Long Burmese Python in FloridaDespite the seemingly optimistic breakthrough, several experts have criticized whether this fertilization process could actually be replicated in humans within a decade.“We still don’t understand enough of the unique biology of human gametogenesis to reproduce Hayashi’s provocative work in mice,” George Q. Daley, dean of Harvard Medical School — who is not involved in the research — toldThe Guardian.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.University of California, Los Angeles, professor Amander Clark told the publication that achieving such a feat would be a “huge leap” in the field considering scientists still have not been able to successfully create lab-grown human eggs from female cells.“We’re poised at this bottleneck at the moment,” Clark said, perThe Guardian. “The next steps are an engineering challenge. But getting through that could be 10 years or 20 years.“Still, Hayashi said, perNature, “There are big differences between a mouse and the human.”
Photo: Getty Images
Scientists in Japan have reportedly created mice with two biological fathers — with the hope to replicate the process in humans.While such a feat was possible before with genetic engineering, multiple outlets reported that the researchers were able togrow the egg cellsusing theskin cellsof two male mice.According toThe Guardian, scientistsmanipulated the geneticcode of stem cells created from the male mice to create mature eggs, which were then fertilized and implanted into a surrogate mouse, birthing seven pups (out of 630 transferred embryos,Naturejournal reported).Research directorKatsuhiko Hayashi, of Kyushu University andOsaka University, presented the findings (which have not yet been published) at theThird International Summiton Human Genome Editing this week, perNaturejournal, telling attendees that this fertilization process could be replicated for same-sex couples in the future.“I don’t know whether they’ll be available for reproduction,” Hayashi said, according toThe Guardian. “Purely in terms of technology, it will be possible [in humans] even in 10 years.“RELATED VIDEO: Scientists Find Intact 5-Foot Alligator Inside 18-Foot-Long Burmese Python in FloridaDespite the seemingly optimistic breakthrough, several experts have criticized whether this fertilization process could actually be replicated in humans within a decade.“We still don’t understand enough of the unique biology of human gametogenesis to reproduce Hayashi’s provocative work in mice,” George Q. Daley, dean of Harvard Medical School — who is not involved in the research — toldThe Guardian.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.University of California, Los Angeles, professor Amander Clark told the publication that achieving such a feat would be a “huge leap” in the field considering scientists still have not been able to successfully create lab-grown human eggs from female cells.“We’re poised at this bottleneck at the moment,” Clark said, perThe Guardian. “The next steps are an engineering challenge. But getting through that could be 10 years or 20 years.“Still, Hayashi said, perNature, “There are big differences between a mouse and the human.”
Scientists in Japan have reportedly created mice with two biological fathers — with the hope to replicate the process in humans.
While such a feat was possible before with genetic engineering, multiple outlets reported that the researchers were able togrow the egg cellsusing theskin cellsof two male mice.
According toThe Guardian, scientistsmanipulated the geneticcode of stem cells created from the male mice to create mature eggs, which were then fertilized and implanted into a surrogate mouse, birthing seven pups (out of 630 transferred embryos,Naturejournal reported).
Research directorKatsuhiko Hayashi, of Kyushu University andOsaka University, presented the findings (which have not yet been published) at theThird International Summiton Human Genome Editing this week, perNaturejournal, telling attendees that this fertilization process could be replicated for same-sex couples in the future.
“I don’t know whether they’ll be available for reproduction,” Hayashi said, according toThe Guardian. “Purely in terms of technology, it will be possible [in humans] even in 10 years.”
RELATED VIDEO: Scientists Find Intact 5-Foot Alligator Inside 18-Foot-Long Burmese Python in Florida
Despite the seemingly optimistic breakthrough, several experts have criticized whether this fertilization process could actually be replicated in humans within a decade.
“We still don’t understand enough of the unique biology of human gametogenesis to reproduce Hayashi’s provocative work in mice,” George Q. Daley, dean of Harvard Medical School — who is not involved in the research — toldThe Guardian.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
University of California, Los Angeles, professor Amander Clark told the publication that achieving such a feat would be a “huge leap” in the field considering scientists still have not been able to successfully create lab-grown human eggs from female cells.
“We’re poised at this bottleneck at the moment,” Clark said, perThe Guardian. “The next steps are an engineering challenge. But getting through that could be 10 years or 20 years.”
Still, Hayashi said, perNature, “There are big differences between a mouse and the human.”
source: people.com
