Mice With Two Dads Reach Adulthood Thanks to CRISPR
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Summary
Scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences used CRISPR to create mice with DNA from two dads, overcoming what is known as “imprinting” (where some genes are activated or deactivated depending on whether they come from the biological mum or dad) to produce adult offspring.
This study differs from previous research using two dads in that it produced adult mice, whereas previous studies whose embryos had a high imprinting defect rate had shorter lives.
This research paves the way for testing in larger animals and, in the future, humans, but the team warned the method is still far from being ready for clinical use, with the animals displaying a shorter lifespan and a number of health issues.