China's researchers breed mice with two fathers - a breakthrough or ethical dilemma?

China's researchers breed mice with two fathers - a breakthrough or ethical dilemma?

China - Scientists in China have made significant progress in reproductive research by breding mice with two fathers without using maternal genetic material. The results of her study, published in the “Cell Stem Cell” journal, open up new opportunities to avoid the genomic character. Genomic embossing, a phenomenon in which only one of the two gene copies is active, could be overcome by targeted manipulation, which is a great challenge in same -sex reproduction reports the Ostsee-Zeitung .

The research group led by Wei Li has gained embryonic stem cells from the sperm of male mice and changed 20 significant imprinting genes. These cells were inserted into gutted egg cells from another mouse, which led to the birth of lively embryos. However, more than half of the experimentally breeded mice did not reach adulthood, and all surviving animals remained sterile results and challenges

Anomalies such as oversize and shortened lifespan were found in the surviving mice. In other experiments with young animals of two female mice, the researchers showed that normal growth could be promoted by removing a certain genomic region National Geographic . However, many young animals of the males die quickly, which means that the exact causes of these high mortality rates remain unclear.

The effects of this research on future scientific approaches are promising, but raise numerous ethical questions. Theoretically same -sex couples could help you get genetically related children, provided that the methods are further developed medically and ethically. However, it is still unclear whether these technologies can also be used safely in humans warns Ostsee-Zeitung .

ethical considerations for genetics

The ethical questions about research on embryos are versatile. Genetic engineering and reproductive medicine are central sociopolitical issues that require careful considerations. Hans Jonas emphasized the responsibility of the scientists towards the human condition and nature, and this responsibility is particularly relevant when it comes to manipulation of genetic data. In particular, the distinction between somatic gene therapy and germination gate therapy includes significant ethical concerns notes .

Experiments on the targeted manipulation of human embryos are controversial. The applicable ethical guidelines emphasize the protection of human life and demand clear medical goals for such interventions. In view of the reach of genetic manipulation, future developments in this area must be observed closely to ensure that the techniques are both safe and ethically justifiable BPB .