For the first time, a study shows that eggs do not have to be strictly necessary to have offspring. A team of scientists from the University of Bath (UK) has developed an innovative new technique that involves the use of sperm to fertilize embryos instead of eggs: the method has resulted in the birth of completely healthy mouse pups .
Traditionally, the foundation occurs when a sperm manages to reach a female egg; The egg then “reprograms” the sperm, producing various chromosomal and DNA changes that allow the sperm to divide and produce the specialized cells that make up an organism.
Do only the ovules have this capacity?
British researchers have developed a method for i parthenotes nyectar mouse chemically treated (partenogenotes: trick the egg to develop an embryo without being fertilized) with sperm nuclei and get born rodents healthy, with a success rate of up to 24% . The parthenogenotes technique by itself has a 0% success rate. Nuclear transfer cloning has a 2% success rate. The results can be considered a success.
Although the injected embryos had chromosomal and DNA similarities to normal ones, the researchers note that the DNA of the injected embryos has started to show different epigenetic markings, compared to traditional fertilization. What will happen to these epigenetic differences is unknown.
“This is the first time that a mouse calf has been developed to term by injecting sperm into embryos. It was thought that only an oocyte cell was capable of reprogramming the sperm that facilitates the development of the embryo ”, explains Tony Perry, leader of the study.
Based on this, one day we will be able to have babies without the need for eggs (allowing, for example, two men to have a baby) but, for the moment, this possibility is pure speculation and fantasy, according to scientists.
The study has been published in the journal Nature Communications.
