The Reproduction is a complex operation that have need of a genetic parts and from two opposite-sex organisms in order to procreate. However, scientists in a first have pushed back the barriers for same-sex reproduction in humans.Needing genes from opposite-sex parents for reproduction only applies to mammals. However, certain breeds of female fish, reptiles, amphibians and birds can give birth alone – the scientific name for which is ‘parthenogenesis.’
Following this strain of reproduction, scientists in China took an egg from one mouse and a special type of cell – a haploid embryonic stem cell – from another.
However, simply combining these two cells wasn’t enough. The process required gene-editing, where the scientists deleted three sets of genetic instructions to make them compatible.
And the result? Healthy mice babies from two mice mothers.
The process was initially tried on with a double-dad approach, but the resulting offspring died within 48 hours of being born – the male process required editing of seven gene-codes.
Dr Teresa Holm, from the University of Auckland, thinks there is a chance of recreating this birth in othe pecies in the long run. “It may even lead to the development of ways for same-sex couples to reproduce healthy children of their own,” she says.
But she points out there are “significant ethical and safety concerns that would need to be overcome.”
Sophia Yan 嚴倩君✔@sophia_yan
A team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences stunned geneticists by producing 29 healthy #mouse pups from two female parents with the help of #DNA editing. Next: Monkeys. Future: Humans?! Whoa! #genes https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2018/10/11/needs-men-first-mammal-born-same-sex-female-parents-gene-editing/ …
