Scientists in China Genetically Engineer Mice with Two Male Parents

Scientists in China have genetically engineered mice with two male parents.

The mice were created using manipulated embryonic stem cells.

According to a Reuters report, the mice had “significant developmental abnormalities,” but some lived until adulthood.

Reuters reports:

In the new study, mice were created through genetic editing of mouse embryonic stem cells targeting a class of mammal-specific genes known as imprinted genes, of which there are about 200, the researchers said.

Stem cells are cells that can develop into various bodily tissues. Embryonic stem cells, present in early-stage embryos, have the capability of developing into all the cell types of the developing fetus. Most kinds of stem cells are less versatile and may help to sustain and restore only the tissues and organs in which they are situated.

The researchers said they modified 20 of the imprinting genes and used cloning technology in order to create the bipaternal mice.

“Generally speaking, imprinted genes have been thought to serve as a ‘lock’ preventing mammals from undergoing unisexual reproduction. However, this widely accepted hypothesis had not been conclusively proven before,” developmental biologist Wei Li of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who helped lead the study, told the outlet.

Li claimed that the study was only focused on animals and that there are “no plans” to try to do it with humans.

“This is a fundamental science study focused on animal models. There are no plans to extend this type of experimentation to humans,” Li said.

For the study, the scientists created 1,081 embryos, and 12 percent of them survived until birth—84 males and 50 females. Over half of them died before becoming fully grown.

“Those reaching adulthood all had developmental defects, experienced a shortened lifespan and were sterile,” the report said.

“The bipaternal mice exhibited developmental disorders, including craniofacial deformities, where their facial width-to-length ratio was broader compared to normal mice. They also had difficulty suckling,” developmental biologist and study co-author Guan-Zheng Luo of Sun Yat-sen University said.

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