Stem cell grown mice
October 9, 2012
RESEARCHERS at Kyoto University
have successfully created mouse eggs
from stem cells, and then used IVF
to fertilise them and produce baby
mice.
To achieve this, the researchers
took embryonic stem cells, as well
as induced pluripotent stem cells
(which came from skin cells) and
grew them into cells similar to
germ cells, which were then grown
into ovary cells and then into eggs.
The eggs were then implanted
into a female mouse and fertilised
using sperm which had also been
grown from embryonic stem cells,
and which resulted in the birth of a
healthy clutch of baby mice.
According to the researchers, the
work could lead to a new option for
infertile humans.
Lead researcher Dr Katsuhiko
Hayashi did however temper this
statement by saying that it could be
many years before the technology
is available for human use.
“I must say that it is impossible to
adapt immediately this system to
human stem cells, due to a number
of not only scientific reasons, but
also ethical reasons,” he said.
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