New Study Shows Conversion of Skin Cells to Egg Cells Could Solve Infertility Problems

In a recent scientific advance, researchers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) have published a groundbreaking study demonstrating the possibility of converting skin cells into egg cells, a technique first used to create the cloned sheep "Dolly" about 20 years ago. The success of this research not only offers new hope for solving infertility, but also provides a new way for same-sex couples to hopefully have biological children.

The process, called in vitro gametogenesis (IVG), which the team carried out in mice, involves extracting the nuclei from skin cells and placing them into a donor egg cell from which the nuclei have been removed. The key to this process is to induce the nuclei of the skin cells to reduce their chromosomes by half so that they can bind to the sperm cells to produce a viable embryo.

Senior author Dr. Shoukhrat Mitalipov, director of OHSU's Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, said their goal is to provide a solution for patients who are unable to produce their own eggs. However, the practical application of this technology will take at least another decade to perfect to ensure that the resulting embryos are free of genetic abnormalities.

This research not only offers new hope for infertile couples, but also opens up new possibilities for gay couples. Currently, gay and lesbian couples who want to have their own biological children need eggs from a donor. However, with this technology, two people can use their DNA to create an embryo, which can then be carried to full term by a surrogate mother.

The Oregon study follows similar research published last year by Japanese researchers who successfully bred pups using DNA from two male mice. The success of these studies provides an important foundation for future human applications, and while many challenges still need to be overcome, they open up new avenues for addressing infertility and the possibility of expanding large family structures.