Revolution in genetics: Mice born to two fathers had offspring

A study conducted in China revealed that mice born with genetic material taken only from male mice were able to give birth to their own offspring.

This development is considered an important step that could pave the way for reproduction using genetic material only from male animals. This process is called "androgenesis".

Scientists have previously succeeded in developing mouse embryos in a laboratory environment using sperm cells from two male mice. However, the offspring born in those experiments were infertile and could not reproduce. A new study by a team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University has overcome this obstacle.

TWO MICE SURVIVED

The study targeted genetic suppressor regions (ICRs), one of the biggest obstacles to male-to-male reproduction. When the balanced ICR coding provided by genes normally inherited from both mother and father is disrupted, the embryo is seriously damaged and often ends its life.

By trying to reprogram these regions with delicate gene editing techniques, scientists were able to obtain healthy, reproductive mice from sperm cells taken from two male mice.

In the study, sperm cells from two male mice were injected into eggs that had female DNA removed. Then, seven different ICR regions were edited to ensure healthy embryo development. The edited eggs were implanted into other female mice.

A total of 259 early embryos (blastocysts) were transplanted, three of which were born alive. Two survived and became adults, mating normally and producing healthy offspring.

IT IS EASIER TO REPRODUCE FROM TWO MOTHERS

Although the success rate is currently low, the fact that genetic material from two males has been used to produce healthy and fertile mice shows that the gene editing techniques used are working. Scientists state that it is easier to obtain offspring from two mothers in terms of gene editing, and emphasize that obtaining offspring from two fathers increases the difficulty of the process.

Experts point out that the method is currently very unlikely to be applied to humans. Many ethical and philosophical questions remain unanswered on the subject. However, the research could pave the way for important developments in the future in terms of infertility treatments and understanding hereditary diseases.

The findings of the study were published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal PNAS.