Overview
- The Nature Communications paper details a somatic cell nuclear transfer approach dubbed “mitomeiosis,” which reduces chromosomes after moving a skin-cell nucleus into an enucleated donor oocyte.
- Scientists generated 82 oocyte-like cells and fertilized them via IVF, with most embryos arresting at the 4–8-cell stage and exhibiting chromosomal abnormalities.
- About 9% of embryos reached the blastocyst stage and none were cultured beyond that point, highlighting current efficacy and safety constraints.
- Embryos carried chromosomes from both parents, indicating the technique differs from cloning even though it uses SCNT.
- OHSU estimates at least a decade of additional research before the approach could be considered for human clinical trials in the United States.