In a revolutionary medical achievement, scientists have successfully produced human eggs using skin cells, marking a potential turning point in fertility treatment that could offer new hope for countless women struggling with infertility.
According to research conducted at Oregon Health & Science University in the United States, researchers utilized advanced technology to extract the nucleus containing genetic information from a skin cell and transfer it into a donor egg. This method, known as somatic cell nuclear transfer, has previously been used in animal cloning.
The next significant challenge was reducing the number of chromosomes. While normal skin cells contain 46 chromosomes, a healthy egg must have only 23. To address this, researchers developed a novel technique called “mitomeiosis,” using a chemical compound to successfully produce artificial eggs with the correct chromosome count.
If fully realized, this technology could enable women who are unable to produce healthy eggs due to conditions such as premature menopause, side effects from chemotherapy, or ovarian issues to become biological mothers. It also holds the potential to allow two men to have a biological child genetically related to both.
However, this technology is still in its early stages and faces considerable challenges. The current success rate remains very low, and the produced eggs have shown chromosomal abnormalities. Experts estimate that at least a decade of further research and development is needed to ensure the method’s safety and efficacy.
This advancement also raises complex ethical questions concerning the boundaries of science and human reproduction, underscoring the need for broad public dialogue and the establishment of robust regulatory frameworks. Despite these hurdles, this breakthrough undeniably opens a new window into the future of infertility treatment, promising to surpass current limitations.
Reuters