Mouse with Two Dads Survives to Adulthood

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A mouse born from two fathers has lived to become an adult, marking a first in science history. Chinese scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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The study included modifying imprinting genes that control gene expression through techniques like gene deletion, region editing, and genetic base pair changes.

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One of the researchers, Wei Li, says this work will help to address a number of limitations in stem cell and regenerative medicine research.

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The research team modified 20 key imprinting genes in male mouse cells using various genetic engineering techniques, out of which only 11.8% of embryos developed until birth.

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Looking at the 1.2% of mice that made it to adulthood, scientists noticed they grew larger than normal mice and did not live as long.

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Organs of the mice grew too large, pressing against their chest cavity, showing how genes from mothers and fathers usually work together to control growth in natural reproduction.

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Scientists are now working to improve their techniques, hoping to create healthier mice and plan to try similar experiments and adapt to various genetic patterns of larger animals.

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The low success rate and health problems in the surviving mice show that there's still much to learn about the complex dance of genes in mammalian development.

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