Researchers have successfully created fertilizable eggs from human skin cells, resulting in early-stage embryos. The findings, published in Nature Communications, represent a significant advancement in the search for advanced fertility treatments.

The procedure involved transplanting the nucleus of a skin cell, which contains the majority of human genetic material, into a donor egg stripped of its own nucleus. Using this procedure, the team created 82 functional immature eggs. These oocytes were then fertilised in the laboratory, creating embryos that carried DNA from the skin cell donor.

Scientists at Oregon Health and Science University developed a technique called “mitomeiosis” to ensure that the proper amount of chromosomes remained after fertilisation. Despite this success, less than 9% of the produced eggs developed the blastocyst stage, and all embryos had chromosomal abnormalities. As a result, the embryos would not lead to viable pregnancies at this stage of the research.

Experts emphasise that the approach is still years away from clinical application, but the potential is tremendous. The approach may someday allow elderly women, cancer survivors, and same-sex couples to bear genetically related offspring.