It is possible to give birth without a mother's egg

We often assume that, when a woman's eggs combine sperm, they form a complete genome, including half of the father's DNA and half of the mother's DNA. They combine to form an embryo, then grow into a baby. But is it true that only eggs have that ability?

A mouse embryo was fertilized in an experiment at Bath University (UK).

Scientists have recently found a way to give birth to a baby without using a mother's egg .

According to the British Telegraph, an experiment that created a major turning point in biology over nearly 200 years conducted by Bath University demonstrated that two men could also give birth from their own DNA .

" Imagine you can use skin cells to create embryos. This may bring some benefits, " said Dr. Tony Perry, Bath University.

Scientists have shown that embryos can be formed from cells with all their chromosomes. This means, in theory, any cell on the human body can fertilize sperm.

In the experiment, three generations of mice were created using this new technique, they are all very healthy. And scientists are looking for ways to test the theory using skin cells.

Scientists want to verify what the results would be if they used skin cells to fertilize.

"Some people think that eggs are needed, but our research confirms that you don't have to start , " said Dr. Tony Perry, a researcher in embryonic molecules and author of the study. From eggs, we have assumed that only egg cells are capable of causing sperm to change to form embryos that develop into fetuses . "

The doctor added: "Our research has challenged those teachings - things that have existed since embryonic scientists first observed mammalian eggs and observed the fertilization 50 years later - that only eggs are able to combine with sperm to produce a perfectly healthy mammal, we are talking about other ways to create an embryo. Imagine you can use skin cells to create embryos, which will probably bring some benefits. "

Research process

With initial experiments, scientists have found a way to "trick" an egg that is developing into an embryo, using special chemicals that make the egg think it has been fertilized. The cells in the embryo perfectly reproduce themselves as they separate, and resemble most other cells in the body, such as skin cells.

When scientists inject sperm into embryos, they develop into healthy mice and are ready to give birth to their babies.

Non-ovary fertilization cells that develop into embryos are not different from normal egg cells.

Although researchers began experimenting with an egg cell, they still had a strong belief that without the need for eggs to have normal growth. In theory, this technique works with any cell on the body as long as half of their chromosomes are separated to combine with sperm chromosomes.

Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, team leader of The Francis Crick Research Institute, said: "I am not surprised to see the authors are very interested in this. I think this is a very interesting article, and And I'm sure it will tell us what's important about reprogramming right from the first steps of the development process involving fertilization - and more broadly, It is the reprogramming of cell growth in some other cases . "

" It hasn't told us how, but the article has given some valuable points " - he added.

Children who don't - need - mom: How does that technique work?

Development of conventional embryos.

How does the embryo-making technique do not need eggs?

Some effects of research

The technique being studied will be able to help gay couples who are able to have children with their own DNA (by combining one person's DNA and the other half of the DNA), although they still need a woman to carry a pregnancy.

This technique could also help a man fertilize his own cells to give birth, in which the genome is an inheritance and a combination of his genome and his parents.

In fact, this technique will help women who cannot get pregnant because of cancer or radiation can still have their own children. Previously, if a woman was on cancer treatment and was receiving radiation therapy, she was not allowed to be pregnant, unless a woman's eggs were frozen before cancer treatment or radiation therapy. However, not all frozen eggs can fulfill their fertilization obligations to create the perfect embryo. With this technique, sick women can still have children at any time. Usually, at a certain age, women will no longer be able to use their eggs to give birth. But this technique will help fertilize a skin cell, and it will increase a woman's chance of having a baby.

The use of sperm and cells - not - right - cell - cells - eggs also helps to conserve rare organisms, because with this technique, we will not need to work hard to recover eggs. those animals.

Some achievements

In the study, 30 mice were born, the success rate was 24%. While the success rate of childbirth by the Dolly sheep method (cloning method by multiplication) is only 1% to 2%.

Some mice were tested to produce pups from their own cells, and they were still able to have children with other mice. This fertility is considered a sign of normal health and development.

Dr. Perry said his team is planning the next steps to make an effort, trying to create healthy animals from non-oocytes, such as skin cells.

The pups in the experiment were all healthy and ready to produce pups.

Dr. Paul Colville-Nash, from the Medical Research Council (has invested in this research), said: "This is an interesting study that helps us better understand the lives people have captured. how and what can control the viability of the embryo, important mechanisms of action in fertilization and reproduction ".

" And someday, we might even be able to solve the problem of infertility, even though that day may be a long way from us ," he added.

The study is published in Nature Communication.