Groundbreaking study produces fertile mice from 2 males
Researchers in China have managed to create healthy, fertile mice using DNA from two dads—no mom involved.
By using targeted epigenetic programming to modify methylation patterns that normally block same-sex reproduction, they got embryos to develop and even grow up to have babies of their own.
How the researchers created these mice
Scientists took sperm from two different male mice and injected their genetic material into an egg cell that had its DNA removed.
Out of 250 attempts, three baby mice were born, and two survived long-term—both able to father pups themselves.
The process is still not ready for humans
This experiment shows it's possible to get around nature's usual rules for mammal reproduction, at least in mice.
While the process is still tricky and not ready for humans (and comes with big ethical questions), it opens new doors for understanding how genes control early development.