Parenting

Making babies without eggs could be possible

This landmark research could pave the way for motherless babies. Mind you, it was conducted in mice...
Baby

It’s been believed for over 200 years that human embryos could only be developed when an egg and sperm are combined. But a crucial experiment from the University of Bath has been able to successfully breed mice using skin cells and if it can be replicated in humans, two men’s DNA could be used to make a baby.

“It has been thought that only an egg cell was capable of reprogramming sperm to allow embryonic development to take place,” said molecular embryologist and the study’s lead researcher Dr. Tony Perry.

“Our work challenges that dogma, held since early embryologists first observed mammalian eggs in around 1827 and observed fertilisation 50 years later, that only an egg cell fertilised with a sperm cell can result in a live mammalian birth.

“We’re talking about different ways of making embryos. Imagine that you could take skin cells and make embryos from them. This would have all kinds of utility.”

For the experiment, scientists “tricked” mouse eggs into becoming embryos using chemical fertilisation. These embryos were then injected with mouse sperm and went on to become healthy mice capable of reproducing.

Although the initial experiments started with egg cells, scientists are saying it could be possible using any other adult cells.

While more research needs to be done before this is in action, the implication that it’s possible could be life-changing for not only male couples looking to have children, but also for women who may be infertile due to various reasons like age or illness.

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