Viable Female and Male Mice from Two Fathers Produced Using Stem Cell Technology

[The Straight Story]

Viable Female and Male Mice from Two Fathers Produced Using Stem Cell Technology

ScienceDaily (Dec. 8, 2010) — Using stem cell technology, reproductive scientists in Texas, led by Dr. Richard R. Behringer at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, have produced male and female mice from two fathers.


The study was posted online Dec. 8 in the journal Biology of Reproduction.

The achievement of two-father offspring in a species of mammal could be a step toward preserving endangered species, improving livestock breeds, and advancing human assisted reproductive technology (ART). It also opens the provocative possibility of same-sex couples having their own genetic children, the researchers note.

In the new work, the Behringer team manipulated fibroblasts from a male (XY) mouse fetus to produce an induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell line. About one percent of iPS cell colonies grown from this XY cell line spontaneously lost the Y chromosome, resulting in XO cells. The XO iPS cells were injected into blastocysts from donor female mice. The treated blastocysts were transplanted into surrogate mothers, which gave birth to female XO/XX chimeras having one X chromosome from the original male mouse fibroblast.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101208151611.htm

[lunatica]

1. In some important ways we're not racing back to the 'Golden Age' of Leave it to Beaver

This is very important. We may see huge breakthroughs on eliminating diseases that have plagued us. On the other hand we may be opening the door to a Brave New World.

[jody]

2. "female XO/XX chimeras" is a significant phrase. Would a XO/XX chimera have rights as a human or a

soul as believed by religions?

[The Straight Story]

3. Not until they are born

;)

[jody]

4. Many religions believe a soul is created at the moment of conception. Moreover many governments

consider an assault against a human fetus as an assault against a fetus after birth, i.e. baby.

Will SCOTUS say a XO/XX chimera is a "natural born Citizen" and eligible to become president?