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SCIENTISTS HAVE ANNOUNCED they have produced baby mice by fusing sperm and a type of cell that is not an egg.
The pups that survived the process were healthy, with normal lifespans, and able to procreate the traditional way, researchers from Britain and Germany reported in the journal Nature Communications.
“It had been thought that only an egg cell was capable of reprogramming sperm to allow embryonic development to take place,” said the report’s senior author Tony Perry of the University of Bath.
“Our work challenges the dogma, held since early embryologists first observed mammalian eggs 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.”
There are two types of cell: “meiotic” reproductive cells (eggs and sperm), and “mitotic” cells which include most of the tissues and organs in our bodies.
Mammal reproduction requires a sperm and egg to fuse, creating an embryo.
But instead of using a meiotic egg cell to produce their mouse pups, the researchers used a type of mitotic cell called a parthenogenote.
These are very early-stage, single-celled embryos that form without fertilisation — in this case by chemically activating a mouse egg.
Just before the parthenogenotes divided into two cells, they were injected with sperm nuclei to fertilise them.
The resulting pups’ survival rate was a quarter that of other mice.
Reproduction revolution?
Though these are early days, the feat suggested that other types of mitotic cell, such as skin cells, may one day be used to create offspring.
This could open up the possibility for gay men, older women or infertile couples to have children with both parents’ DNA.
“Imagine if any mitotic cell could reprogram a sperm in the same way. Then there would be no need for eggs,” Perry explained.
This could revolutionise reproduction.
For now, though, the team still need eggs to create their parthenogenotes.
Parthenogenesis is a technique employed by certain plants and animals — some lizards, snakes and worms for example — to fertilise eggs and create embryos without the need for sperm.
It does not happen naturally in mammals, and any parthenogenote created accidentally would not survive.
One day, said Perry, it might be possible to print parthenogenotes instead of having to tease them from egg cells, meaning “the egg feature of this would be history”.
World-first
Outside experts not involved in the study welcomed the world-first achievement, but stressed a lot still has to happen before the method can be used in humans.
Robin Lovell-Badge of The Francis Crick Institute, a biomedical research unit in London, described the result as a “technical tour de force”.
“I am sure it will tell us something important about reprogramming at these early steps of development that are relevant to both fertilisation and SCNT (cloning),” he said.
It doesn’t yet tell us how, but the paper gives a number of clear pointers.
Marie-Helene Verlhac, a scientist at France’s CNRS research institute, underlined the finding that one does not need an egg to reprogram sperm to kickstart embryo formation.
“So we can imagine also using parthenogenotes” in human fertility treatment one day, she said — reducing reliance on eggs which are notoriously difficult to harvest.
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They are part of a contest where they are literally judged on their appearance and intellect…
@Martin Black: I think it’s a ridiculous competition but that doesn’t give the CEO the right to refer to them in the manner he did. If he wouldn’t say it to their faces he certainly shouldn’t be saying it through email.
@Martin Black: intellect???
@Number 20: Indeed people have; but have you ever participated in a group chain email that said desparaging things about people with whom you interactions with were on a professional basis, and where you were the head of the professional organisation?
@Number 20: “You only care when white men in positions of power do it, don’t you.” – No. I care about any person in a professional setting, especially if they are in a position of power, going on a tirade against another. It is unacceptable behaviour.
@Number 20: do you believe he behaved in an unprofessional manner or not? Forget comparing him to the behaviour of people who call themselves journalists etc. Do you think it was unprofessional of the ceo to take part in this or not? And if it was ridiculously unprofessional, which I think it was, do you think there should be repercussions or not?
@Number 20: No I haven’t written a letter of complaint. I have signed petitions, and I protest with my pocket by not purchasing such publications, or visiting such websites. And that’s not a secret. It is also a different issue to the one at hand. We are talking about professionals not acting professionally. And yes, if this person had been female I would expect a similar response to the behaviour.
@Number 20: no doubt you would as I am human and I tend to prefer animals to people more and more recently. But in a professional capacity if someone does something like this, there are repercussions, as there would be against me if I were to do what he did. When I was in college I did part time work in a chain store. The manager decided to have an unmerciful b**** about one of the staff to two other members of staff. He just didn’t like the guy and decided to air everything about him that he knew and some. He was reported to the regional manager and there were repercussions. I think this is basically that but it’s getting more hype because he’s the ceo of something that a lot of people have issues with already and of course it makes for great click bait.
@Number 20: Who hasn’t, but he worked with these women in a professional capacity and put his comments in writing, presumably using his work email.
@Number 20: Aaaah, the classic “what’s the big deal, everyone’s doing it?” defence. That one never loses it’s shine, does it?
The writer “who has since being terminated”. Harsh. Releasing information will be interesting in this latest case. Pageants will have to be banned – especially ones for kids.
@lavbeer: to be honest ive always thought kids beauty pageant type contests were beyond weird.
@Number 20: did I specify particular pageants? Nope, don’t believe I did. I just find them all weird. Funny that you only seem to find that one weird… I personally find them all weird..
https://youtu.be/L1HQtUqpR-g
@Number 20: oh also.. Weren’t child beauty pageants banned in France?
@Number 20: no there really wasn’t, maybe you will keep that in check in future, but I doubt it.
@Number 20: if I say I have a problem with child beauty type pageants, why would I make an exception because the child is in drag? A child is a child and I don’t think putting them on display in 60 tonne of make up and the feathers of half a flock of flamingos is beneficial to any child and will make them link their worth to their appearance and their ability to entertain others. I think that’s unhealthy for any child. The way you asked the question comes across like you expected me to say I thought it was OK. They are all children, they deserve childhoods.
@Number 20: oh I know full well why you brought it up, and given that I’m a so called progressive in your words and I don’t encourage this behaviour, you have just proven that you know sod all about what supposed progressives are pushing and have just given an insight into your own mind. Don’t accuse me of being passive aggressive when you are the one who was on the attack in the first place, there’s a good lad.
@Number 20: oh and a happy Christmas to you too.
@Number 20: jeesk, you wish someone a happy Xmas and you get called rude. Go figure
@Dell: I find the use of Xmas instead of Christmas pretty rude and offensive myself.
@Number 20: jesus wept..
@Let free speech live: I’m sure you do… And I’m glad you took the time to share that with us all.
@Number 20: grow up would you? You came on here with an agenda and with a preconception and you were wrong. Deal with it. Crying about me being rude is just silly at this stage. Dry your eyes up and move on for the love of whatever.
@Number 20: same question to you.
@Number 20: Methinks you doth protest too much !
Shame on whoever leaked the emails bringing this celebration of female empowerment into disrepute.
@alphanautica:
At the end of the day, they all have lovely bottoms.
@alphanautica: yes I’m sure you guys only look out for women and equality.
pretty stupid things to say in emails where there is a permanent record of what you said. The guy brought the suspension on himself.
have your say