Mice are created with genomes of two males
2025/01/29 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria
Scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have invented a method to transform male mouse stem cells into eggs. These cells, normally fertilized with spermatozoa, and implanted in the uterus of a female mouse, have been able to develop and be born normally.
The procedure, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, makes it clear that, for the time being, its use in humans is unthinkable.
In the article, the researchers explain that the first step has been to identify the genes that cause malformations and defects in the process of egg derivation from spermatozoa. In fact, spermatozoa (as well as eggs) leave their mark on the cells derived from them, so the first objective has been to eliminate this mark. To do this, they first inserted a sperm into an egg without a genome and transformed 20 areas of the sperm genome.
Once this has been achieved, this cell has been re-inserted into an egg without genetic material and attached to the sperm. Thus, pluripotent cells with two genomes have been obtained. The next step has been to implant the embryo in the uterus of a female mouse. Finally, mice have been obtained with genes from both parents, with no maternal genes.
This is not the first time this has been achieved, but the other day it was done by transforming XY cells into XX. Now Y and Y have done it together. In particular, the method of removing the trace has been highlighted.
