Scientists create human eggs in the lab, using skin cells

    Scientists create human eggs in the lab, using skin cells

    Title: A Breakthrough in Infertility Treatment – Creating Human Eggs from Skin Cells In a groundbreaking development, scientists have successfully created human eggs containing genes from adult skin cells. This breakthrough could potentially revolutionize infertility treatment and help couples who are unable to conceive naturally. The research was led by Shoukhrat Mitalipov of the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland and published in the journal Nature Communications. The field of in vitro gametogenesis, which involves creating human eggs in a lab setting using adult cells as a base, has been gaining momentum over recent years. This technique holds immense promise for women who are unable to conceive due to age or other reasons. By providing them with the opportunity to have genetically related children of their own, this technology could significantly improve the lives of millions of infertile individuals worldwide. The most common approach in creating human eggs involves converting adult cells into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and then coaxing these iPS cells into becoming eggs or sperm. However, previous attempts have only resulted in very primitive egg cells that are too immature to be fertilized. Mitalipov’s team took a different approach by using the same technique employed to clone Dolly the sheep – replacing most of the DNA from a healthy donor egg with that of another woman’s skin cell. This breakthrough has far-reaching implications, both positive and negative. On one hand, it offers hope for couples struggling with infertility or those who wish to have genetically related children but cannot conceive naturally. It also opens up new avenues in medical research and understanding of human development at the cellular level. However, this advancement also raises several ethical, social, and legal concerns that need to be addressed carefully. For instance, how will these techniques affect our understanding of parenthood? What rights do children conceived through such methods have over their genetic parents or donors? These questions must be answered before we can fully embrace the potential benefits of this groundbreaking discovery. In conclusion, while there are still many uncertainties surrounding this development, it represents a significant step forward in our quest to overcome infertility and expand our knowledge about human reproduction. As scientists continue to refine these techniques, it is crucial that we engage in open dialogue regarding the ethical implications of such advancements so that we can ensure responsible use of this powerful technology for the betterment of humanity.

    Source: [Original Article](https://www.npr.org/2025/09/30/nx-s1-5553322/ivg-human-eggs-cells-fertility)

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