Human eggs created from skin cells for first time in landmark fertility study

Eggcelsior!

Scientists have made a landmark breakthrough that enables the creation of viable human egg cells from a skin cell, new research claims.

The study, published in Nature Communications, detailed how US scientists created a human egg cell — also called an oocyte — by isolating the nucleus of a skin cell and implanting it into a donor egg which had no nucleus.

The process is considered a breakthrough in infertility for older women without eggs and introduces the revolutionary concept of a viable egg cell derived from male DNA.

“This would allow older women, or women without eggs for any reason (e.g. previous cancer treatment) to have a genetically related child,” the study’s co-author Dr. Paula Amato from Oregon Health and Science University, told CNN.

“In addition, it would allow same-sex couples (two men for example) to have a child genetically related to both partners.”

After transplanting the nucleus of the skin cell into the donated egg, the oocyte was still not viable as it contained a full 46 chromosomes, instead of 23, the correct number for human eggs.

Scientists then applied a mild electric pulse and a chemical treatment — shaking off half of the chromosomes from the pseudo-egg and leaving behind the appropriate number for reproduction.

This shedding was a crucial step not previously achieved artificially, according to The Times of London.

As of now, none of these treated cells would produce embryos due to chromosomal abnormalities, but the researchers believe that the technique can be refined, according to the report.

The advancement is a milestone towards the goal of in vitro gametogenesis — creating viable egg and sperm from ordinary body cells — but the prospect of clinical use is far off.

“At this stage it remains just a proof of concept and further research is required to ensure efficacy and safety before future clinical applications,” the study said.