Scientists have successfully created human eggs from skin cells, a development that could revolutionise IVF treatment and open new possibilities for people who cannot conceive naturally.
The early-stage research, led by Prof Shoukhrat Mitalipov at Oregon Health and Science University, adapted cloning techniques first used to create Dolly the sheep in the 1990s. By transferring the nucleus of a skin cell into a donor egg stripped of its own, researchers produced lab-grown eggs containing the donor’s genetic material.
The breakthrough could one day help women whose fertility has been affected by age, illness or chemotherapy, as well as same-sex male couples seeking genetically related children. “The largest group of patients who might benefit would be women of advanced maternal age,” said Mitalipov. “But this would also be applicable to same-sex couples.”
Despite the promise, challenges remain. Human eggs typically hold 23 chromosomes, to be paired with 23 from sperm at fertilisation. The lab-grown eggs often showed errors, producing embryos with the wrong number of chromosomes. Out of 82 eggs created, fewer than 10% developed to the stage usually ready for IVF transfer, and none were cultured beyond six days.
“This is a proof of concept,” Mitalipov said, cautioning that refining the process and ensuring safety could take another decade.
Experts have hailed the research as a step forward. Prof Richard Anderson of the University of Edinburgh called it “a major advance” for women who lose their eggs after cancer treatment. Others, including Prof Roger Sturmey of the University of Hull, stressed the need for robust public dialogue and governance to ensure trust as reproductive science moves into uncharted territory.
