Scientists in Japan have found a way for two males to have a baby together, according to Professor Luke O’Neill.
On The Pat Kenny Show this morning, the Trinity professor told Pat about the ‘startling story’ of the mouse with two dads.
He said scientists in Japan have figured out a way to make a baby mouse from the chromosomes of two male mice.
He said the technology could ultimately pave the way for two men to have a baby together – with the Japanese scientists saying that may be possible in as little as ten years.
“It is incredible science really isn’t it?” he said.
“It is a Japanese group that has been working on fertilisation for decades and it is all about IVF and infertility.
“What they did was they took a male cell from a mouse – remember a male cell has an X and a Y chromosome, that is what makes it a male cell; A female is XX as you probably know.
“So, they got the XY cell, took out the Y chromosome, stuck in another X and now they have made that cell female if you know what I mean.
“They swapped a Y with an X and they have a double X cell now, of the same genetic material of the parent.”
Professor O’Neill said the next step was even more complicated and involved taking the new cell and “turning it back into an egg”.
“Then they got a sperm, fertilised that and the Y went in, made an XY and that little baby was born,” he said.
A house mouse sitting on a glove. Image: Patrick Pleul/dpa-Zentralbild/ZBHe said the scientist behind the study believes the technology could be usable in humans in about ten years.
“Basically, they’ve worked out this really complicated protocol really to start with two males and end up with an offspring,” he said.
“Ultimately it might be possible for two men to have a baby – that is in the future obviously.
“But this is a breakthrough because this has never been achieved before.”
The Trinity professor said the technology could also be used to treat infertility and Turner’s Syndrome.
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