For the first time in the history of science, Japanese researchers have managed to grow eggs from stem cells and, by fertilizing them, to achieve the birth of absolutely healthy offspring in mice in laboratory conditions.
Over the past two decades, biologists have learned how to convert stem cells into bone tissue, muscle tissue, skin tissue, and also tissues of the nervous system. Such materials can serve as "spare parts" in case of any damage to the body, or as a treatment for a number of degenerative diseases. In particular, attention is drawn to the process of transformation of stem cells into reproductive cells, which are quite suitable for implantation into the human body.
A group of scientists led by Professor Michinori Saito from Kyoto University are convinced that the results of their fruitful research will make a significant contribution to solving problems such as infertility, as well as to the study of the mechanism of the origin of life.
However, the developments of Japanese specialists also raise serious ethical problems. Indeed, last year, Professor Saito's research team reportedly created sperm from viable stem cells. In theory, scientists are now free to start a new life without any involvement of biological parents.
However, the researchers note that the success in fertilization of eggs grown from stem cells is rather low. In this process, various kinds of anomalies are quite often manifested, the reasons for which are not yet clear to Japanese specialists.
Professor Saito and his colleagues said that the method they created for growing eggs, ovaries and sperm from stem cells is still operating exclusively at the level of laboratory mice and is not applicable to humans. But Professor Saito and his colleagues in the future intend to conduct a series of experiments with stem cells from monkeys and humans, in order to obtain sperm and eggs from them.
The research findings were detailed in the electronic version of the current issue of Science.