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Researchers have successfully demonstrated a new advancement in Reproductive
Technology called In vitro gametogenesis (IVG), in which they
could make gametes, produce an off spring from pluripotent stem cells derived
from parent’s skin cells in mice.
Field of Reproductive medicine has come a long way since the discovery of
IVF and birth of Louise Brown in 1978, and applying this technique in humans
may be possible in near future.
The
techniques allows for creation of eggs and sperms from induced pluripotent stem
cells (iPSCs) derived from adult body tissue such as skin in culture dish.
Though currently successful in mice,
this opens doors to immense possibilities in reproductive and regenerative
medicines.
Dr.
Joyce Harper, professor of human genetic and embryology and Deputy Chair on the
board of the British Fertility Society said "It is hard to
predict when innovative fertility technologies will be ready for use in humans.
Ten years ago, we didn't think that egg freezing would arrive so quickly but it
did. We just don't know when in-vitro gametogenesis will be used in humans, but
the fact that it has been done successfully in mice makes is very interesting -
if fertility treatments work in mice they usually end up working in humans at a
later stage.
Three
experts Dr I. Glenn Cohen,, George Q. Daley, and Eli Y. Adashi wrote a perspective essay ‘Disruptive reproductive technologies’ in Science Translational Medicine discussing the helpful aspects and the ethical, societal
and policy dilemmas if IVG is applied to
humans.
It
could be of great benefit in cancer survivors who have undergone chemotherapy
and have lost reproductive function as a result.
It
could help egg donors who have lost the capacity to produce eggs, especially
elderly women who decide to start families in their 40s and 50. This would pave
the way for same-sex couples to have babies of their own using both parents'
genetic material. It could refine the current IVF procedure and save women from
undergoing ovarian stimulation.
It could lead us to better understanding of embryonic development. Three
parent baby is the recent example of it, thereby eliminating mitochondrial
diseases.
Dr
Cohen further added “Combined with rapidly advancing gene-editing
techniques like CRISPR, in vitro
gametogenesis could also conceivably allow scientists to edit out some
inherited diseases or install new traits. These technologies could allow you to
get “closer to your vision of perfection” in children.”
Dr Sonia
M. Suter, professor of law at George Washington University, calls this
procedure ‘Solo IVG’ since theoretically eggs and sperms can be derived from
the same women, she can conceive ‘on her own’. But, this will increase the risk
of many genetic diseases
Her
paper published in journal of law and bioscience could be accessed here. In the
paper, she raises questions about ‘designer babies’, question of lineage of the
offspring, legal aspects of IVG and the ‘unnaturalness’ of the whole procedure.
The
ability to create embryos on large scale will open the doors for ‘embryo
farming’ and devaluing human life.
Whatever
the future of IVG might be it is going to be debated hotly in the world of
science and translational medicine because of many ethical implications of the
procedure.
In the
future, our grandchildren could be coming from unexpected places, as the two
cells that started us all might be coming from culture dish ,instead of being
gonadal in origin.
Could we make babies from skin cells?
Could we make babies from skin cells?
CNN's Kristi Lu Stout spoke with George Daley, Dean of Harvard Medical
School, about a new advancement in reproductive technology called IVG.
This is possible but the technology has to be tried in the lab for animal experiments and then humans. IT is atleast 25 years away. Then there would be ethical issues.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Yes the researchers are already trying it out on primates. Remember, We all thought the same about IVF and egg freezing.It is hard to predict when innovative fertility technologies will be ready for use in humans.
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