A Mouse With Two Dads — and a New Frontier for Biology | Katsuhiko Hayashi | TED

11/25/24 •

Summaries by topic

• English

Germ cell lineage, essential for reproduction, faces threats due to delayed childbearing and aging. Assisted reproductive technology offers solutions, but current methods require sperm and eggs from the body. This presentation explores the development of in vitro gametogenesis, a revolutionary technology that enables the creation of functional eggs and sperm in a dish, using pluripotent stem cells and mimicking natural developmental signals.

Germ Cell Lineage & Challenges

• 00:00:09 All life begins with the union of sperm and egg, forming a germ cell lineage, the only immortal cells in the body. The declining birth rate in humans and animals, along with economic losses in livestock, highlights the fragility of germ cell lineages and the need for intervention.

Assisted Reproductive Technology

• 00:01:30 Assisted reproductive technology (ART), exemplified by in-vitro fertilization, has enabled millions of births. However, ART's effectiveness depends on the availability of sperm and eggs, limiting its application in certain cases, such as endangered species preservation.

In Vitro Gametogenesis

• 00:03:00 In vitro gametogenesis (IVG) aims to replicate the natural gamete development process in a dish. Pluripotent stem cells, capable of differentiating into any cell type, are key to this process, allowing the derivation of eggs and sperm in a lab setting.

Applications of IVG

• 00:05:07 IVG technology can be applied to various species, including humans, livestock, and endangered animals. For example, it's being used to attempt to preserve the Northern White Rhinoceros, which only has two females remaining. The technology also holds the potential to increase animal populations or help infertile couples have children.

Sex-Independent Reproduction

• 00:05:52 By manipulating induced pluripotent stem cells, scientists can potentially bypass sex-dependent reproduction. This involves converting XY chromosomes to XX chromosomes in male cells and generating eggs capable of fertilization and producing healthy offspring. This opens the possibility of offspring from two fathers or two mothers, or other combinations.