Science

Breakthrough in Science: Mice With Two Dads Successfully Father Offspring!

2025-06-24

Author: Jia

A Revolutionary Step in Genetic Research

In a groundbreaking study led by Yanchang Wei at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, scientists have made a historic leap by successfully creating mice with two fathers who can father their own offspring. This remarkable feat involved injecting two sperm cells into an empty egg, utilizing innovative epigenome engineering to reprogram the sperm DNA, paving the way for embryo development.

Against All Odds: The Journey to Fatherhood

Out of over 250 embryos implanted into female mice, only two, both male, made it to adulthood—a low success rate but still a monumental achievement. Despite the challenges, these two mice were not only fertile but also went on to sire their own young, a milestone that defies previous attempts where attempts at same-sex father mice had largely failed.

Tackling Genomic Hurdles: The Science Behind the Success

Past efforts to create mice from two fathers hit a wall due to genomic imprinting, a process where certain genes from either parent are silenced during development. Nevertheless, recent research utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing has shown promise in overcoming these hurdles, enabling the first bi-paternal mice to thrive.

This research sheds light on genetic challenges in unisexual reproduction among mammals, as clarified by co-corresponding author Zhi-kun Li from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It marks a significant advancement with implications for various scientific fields, from regenerative medicine to conservation, although the path ahead is complicated.

The Magic of Epigenetics: Turning Genes On and Off

While gene editing has been revolutionary, Wei’s team took a different route, leveraging epigenetics. They combined two sperm cells with an egg cell stripped of its nuclear material while modifying imprinting control regions in the sperm DNA.

By changing epigenetic markers without altering the DNA sequence, the scientists could influence how genes express themselves—essentially turning them 'on' or 'off'.

A Glimpse into the Future of Reproductive Science

After successful epigenetic modifications, the embryos were implanted into female mice, resulting in two healthy, fertile mice that matured into adulthood and fathered their own offspring. The authors believe their findings support the idea that genomic imprinting is a key obstacle in developing viable uniparental mammalian embryos.

So, what does this mean for human reproduction? While the advancements in this research provide a tantalizing glimpse into potential same-sex reproductive capabilities for humans, experts like Christophe Galichet caution against translating this success directly to people. The barriers, including the number of eggs required and low success rates, remain daunting.

Conclusion: A New Chapter in Reproductive Understanding

Despite these challenges, this breakthrough enriches our understanding of reproduction and genomic imprinting in mammals. With ongoing advancements, the future of genetic research is brighter than ever.