Babies could soon be born without biological mothers – as scientists have come up with a way to create human eggs from skin cells.
The technique opens the possibility for DNA from a man’s skin cells being placed inside a donor egg, before being fertilised by another man.
In theory, this could allow two men to have a baby, without any DNA from a woman.
The breakthrough could also help women experiencing problems with their eggs to have their own genetic children.
While further research is needed to ensure safety and efficacy before clinical trials can go ahead, experts have described the news as a ‘major advance’.
‘Many women are unable to have a family because they have lost their eggs, which can occur for a range of reasons including after cancer treatment,’ said Professor Richard Anderson, Deputy Director of MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh, who was not involved in the study.
‘The ability to generate new eggs would be a major advance. This study shows that the genetic material from skin cells can be used to generate an egg–like cell with the right number of chromosomes to be fertilised and develop into an early embryo.
‘There will be very important safety concerns but this study is a step towards helping many women have their own genetic children.’
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