Of Mice and Skin

Published: Nov. 2, 2016, 5 a.m.

Scientists in Japan have transformed mouse skin cells into eggs in a dish, and used those eggs to birth fertile pups. The report marks the first creation of eggs entirely outside a mouse. If the process could be made to work for humans, researchers could produce artificial eggs without needing to implant immature cells into ovaries to complete their development. Jeff and Anthony discuss the possibilities of something from nothing, when that something is a living thing.

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Today’s story was sent in by Lisa Fountain: http://www.nature.com/news/mouse-eggs-made-from-skin-cells-in-a-dish-1.20817?WT.mc_id=FBK_NA_1610_FHNEWSBHMOUSEEGGS_PORTFOLIO

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