Scientists in the US have created human eggs from skin cells in early-stage research that could revolutionise fertility treatments.
The work, led by Prof Shoukhrat Mitalipov at Oregon Health and Science University, could one day provide genetically related eggs for women who have lost their fertility due to age, illness, or chemotherapy. The same approach could also be applied to same-sex male couples, with eggs derived from male skin cells.
The technique builds on the cloning methods that produced Dolly the sheep in the 1990s, by transferring the nucleus of a skin cell into a donor egg stripped of its own. Researchers then fertilised the eggs with sperm and used a compound to encourage them to shed half their chromosomes, mimicking natural fertilisation.
While the study marks an important proof of concept, challenges remain. Out of 82 eggs created, fewer than 10% developed to early embryo stage, and errors in chromosome pairing were common. None were grown beyond six days.
Mitalipov described the project as “a proof of concept” that could take a decade to perfect. Experts hailed the research as a potential lifeline for patients unable to use their own eggs, but warned of safety concerns and stressed the need for public debate and strict regulation as the science develops.
