A breakthrough in genetic engineering has led to the creation of a bi-paternal mouse – a mouse with two dads – that survived until adulthood. Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have successfully engineered this achievement by targeting specific imprinting genes that previously prevented unisexual reproduction in mammals.
The team, led by Professor Wei Li, used gene-editing techniques to modify 20 key imprinting genes involved in reproduction. This enabled the successful creation of bi-paternal mice, which were found to be more stable and had improved embryonic stem cell viability.
However, the study’s success comes with several challenges. The birth rate was low, with only 11.8% of viable embryos developing to term. Health and lifespan concerns were also evident, as many surviving mice exhibited growth abnormalities and shortened lifespans. Additionally, the bi-paternal mice that reached adulthood were sterile and unable to reproduce.
Despite these challenges, the researchers aim to further refine imprinting gene modifications to improve the survival rates of mice with two dads. The team plans to expand their experiments to larger mammals, including monkeys, to investigate whether this genetic engineering approach could be applied beyond rodents.
The implications of this breakthrough are significant, and the study raises critical ethical and scientific questions about the future of unisexual reproduction in mammals. If successfully adapted for human use, it could completely reshape how society views family and lead to a cultural shift.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/mouse-with-two-dads-survives-to-adulthood-major-implications-for-same-sex-human-couples