Researchers in the United States have, for the first time, generated early-stage human embryos using DNA taken from skin cells. This breakthrough could redefine the future of fertility treatment and reproduction.
The study, published in Nature Communications by Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), details how scientists reprogrammed skin cell nuclei to act like eggs, which were then fertilised with sperm. The technique produced more than 80 functional eggs, some of which developed into embryos lasting up to six days.
According to OHSU, the method could one day offer solutions for infertility caused by age, disease, or medical treatments such as chemotherapy. It also has potential implications for same-sex couples, as it may allow both partners to contribute genetically to a child.
The approach, called “mitomeiosis,” forces the reprogrammed egg to discard half of its chromosomes, mimicking the natural process of egg development. However, the study highlighted key challenges, including low efficiency and errors in chromosome distribution, indicating that the method is still far from being ready for clinical use.
OHSU emphasised that the work remains at the stage of scientific exploration and requires years of refinement before it could be applied in fertility clinics. The university also noted that breakthroughs of this scale demand rigorous governance and open public discussion, given their profound social and ethical implications.
Institutions across the field of reproductive health have described the advance as a milestone in in vitro gametogenesis, the creation of sperm and eggs outside the human body. While safety and accuracy remain major hurdles, experts agree the research represents an important step towards enabling millions of people without viable eggs or sperm to have genetically related children.
