Scientists have achieved a groundbreaking milestone in reproductive technology by successfully creating human eggs from skin cells, potentially revolutionising fertility treatment and opening the unprecedented possibility of two men having a baby without any female DNA.
The breakthrough technique, developed at Oregon Health & Science University, could transform reproductive medicine by offering hope to millions struggling with infertility, including women who have lost their eggs due to cancer treatment, age, or other medical conditions. The advance also raises the extraordinary prospect of same-sex male couples having children genetically related to both partners.
Researchers have successfully produced 82 functional eggs using adult skin cells through a novel process called “mitomeiosis,” with approximately nine per cent developing to the blastocyst stage – the point when embryos would typically be transferred to the womb during IVF treatment.
Revolutionary Technique Solves Chromosome Challenge
The breakthrough centres on solving a fundamental biological challenge that has long stumped scientists. While standard eggs contain 23 chromosomes – half the usual number needed for human development – cells generated from skin typically contain the full complement of 46 chromosomes.
Scientists at Oregon Health & Science University, led by Professor Shoukhrat Mitalipov, developed an innovative solution by inducing a process they’ve dubbed “mitomeiosis” – a hybrid of the two major cell division processes in biology, mitosis and meiosis.
“Mitomeiosis mimics natural cell division and causes one set of chromosomes to be discarded, leaving a functional gamete,” the researchers explained in their groundbreaking study published in Nature Communications.
This novel approach essentially tricks the reconstituted egg into skipping normal forms of cell division, producing eggs with the correct number of chromosomes that can then be fertilised by sperm.
Hope for Millions Facing Infertility
Professor Richard Anderson, Deputy Director of the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh, who was not involved in the study, hailed the development as potentially transformative for women unable to have genetic children.
“Many women are unable to have a family because they have lost their eggs, which can occur for a range of reasons including after cancer treatment,” Professor Anderson stated. “The ability to generate new eggs would be a major advance.”
He emphasised the significance of the achievement: “This study shows that the genetic material from skin cells can be used to generate an egg-like cell with the right number of chromosomes to be fertilised and develop into an early embryo.”
The technique, known as in vitro gametogenesis (IVG), represents a paradigm shift from traditional IVF treatment. While standard IVF typically yields 10 to 14 eggs per cycle, IVG could theoretically produce unlimited numbers of eggs, dramatically increasing the chances of successful conception.
Same-Sex Male Couples Could Have Biological Children
Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of this breakthrough is its potential to enable two men to have children sharing both their DNA. The technique would involve placing DNA from one man’s skin cells inside a donor egg (with its nucleus removed), before fertilising it with sperm from the other partner.
Dr Paula Amato, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at OHSU and co-author of the study, explained: “In addition to offering hope for millions of people with infertility due to lack of eggs or sperm, this method would allow for the possibility of same-sex couples to have a child genetically related to both partners.”
This prospect represents an unprecedented development in reproductive technology, potentially allowing male couples to have biological children without requiring any genetic contribution from a woman beyond the initial donor egg structure.
Significant Limitations Remain
Despite the breakthrough, researchers acknowledge substantial limitations that must be overcome before the technique could be considered for clinical use. The study revealed that 91 per cent of fertilised eggs failed to progress beyond initial fertilisation – a critical challenge that must be addressed.
All embryos produced in the study contained genetic abnormalities that would prevent healthy development, meaning none would have been suitable for actual implantation. Professor Mitalipov remains optimistic about solving these issues but acknowledges significant work remains.
“While our study demonstrates the potential of mitomeiosis for in vitro gametogenesis, at this stage it remains just a proof of concept and further research is required to ensure efficacy and safety before future clinical applications,” the research team stated.
Safety Concerns Paramount
Professor Anderson stressed that safety considerations must be paramount as the technology develops. “It will be very important for safety concerns to be taken into account,” he cautioned, whilst acknowledging this represents “a step towards helping many women have their own genetic children.”
The genetic abnormalities present in all embryos raise questions about whether this approach could ever safely produce healthy offspring. Some scientists warn that skipping meiosis in half the genome may be fundamentally incompatible with normal human development.
Dr Amander Clark, a professor of molecular and developmental biology at UCLA, noted: “It is unclear whether skipping meiosis in half the genome is compatible with human development.”
Traditional IVF vs Revolutionary IVG
For couples struggling to conceive, traditional in vitro fertilisation (IVF) has long been the primary alternative option, involving egg fertilisation by sperm in a laboratory before embryo transfer to the woman’s uterus.
However, when the problem lies with the egg itself, IVF success rates plummet. This new technique could potentially bypass such limitations entirely by creating fresh, viable eggs from readily available skin cells.
The implications extend far beyond current IVF limitations. Women who have undergone cancer treatment that destroyed their eggs, those with conditions like Turner Syndrome who cannot produce normal eggs, or women of advanced maternal age could all potentially benefit from this technology.
Decade Away from Clinical Application
Researchers caution that despite this significant milestone, clinical application remains at least a decade away. The technology must undergo extensive testing and refinement before it could be considered safe for human use.
Professor Mitalipov acknowledged the long road ahead: “We achieved something that was thought to be impossible, but we expect at least a decade of further research before the approach could be deemed safe or effective enough to advance to a clinical trial.”
The research, supported by Open Philanthropy, the Haploid Gamete Research Foundation, and OHSU institutional funds, adhered to strict ethical guidelines and oversight from OHSU’s Institutional Review Board.
Ethical and Social Implications
The breakthrough raises profound ethical, social, and legal questions that society must grapple with as the technology advances. The National Academy of Medicine has already recognised the importance of addressing these implications, hosting multi-day workshops to discuss the ramifications of IVG.
The ability to create unlimited embryos could transform preimplantation genetic testing, allowing prospective parents to select from a much larger pool of embryos. This raises complex questions about embryo selection, genetic enhancement, and the commodification of human reproduction.
Additionally, the prospect of same-sex reproduction and potentially even solo reproduction – where one person could theoretically provide both egg and sperm – challenges fundamental assumptions about human reproduction and family structures.
As this revolutionary technology continues to develop, society must navigate the delicate balance between scientific advancement, ethical considerations, and the desperate hopes of millions facing infertility. While significant technical hurdles remain, this breakthrough represents a crucial step toward a future where biological parenthood may be possible for many who currently have no options.
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