PET PET
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
Become a Friend Donate
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements
PETBioNewsNewsHuman eggs grown in a dish for the first time

BioNews

Human eggs grown in a dish for the first time

Published 13 February 2018 posted in News and appears in BioNews 937

Author

Dr Elizabeth Oliver

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.

Researchers have grown fully developed human eggs in the laboratory for the first time...

Researchers have grown fully developed human eggs in the laboratory for the first time.

The team, led by Professor Evelyn Telfer at the University of Edinburgh, UK, was able to replicate the maturation process of human eggs outside the body. Previously, this had only been achieved using mouse eggs. 

Starting with strips of ovarian tissue containing immature eggs, the scientists developed a method which combined a series of distinct steps each with a carefully designed cocktail of culture media. This generated mature eggs that are, in theory, capable of becoming fertilised embryos. While several of the culture steps had been optimised already, this is the first study of its kind to successfully link the whole process together.

Professor Telfer explains the discovery not only helps inform the understanding of how human eggs develop but could lead to new ways of preserving the fertility of women and children undergoing cancer treatment.

At present, freezing eggs or embryos prior to treatment represents the primary strategy for overcoming infertility in women undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy. For patients who require immediate cancer therapy or girls who have not yet gone through puberty, the process of egg retrieval is not an option. 

In these cases ovary tissue can be taken instead and frozen for later reimplantation. This approach however poses the risk of reintroducing tissue contaminated with cancer cells back into the patient. The new technology offers way to isolate the eggs and grow them in the lab, bypassing the need to reimplant the tissue. 

While an exciting scientific discovery, the current technique, published in the journal of Molecular Human Reproduction, has limitations and has received tough scrutiny from top experts in the field.

Eggs normally eject half their genetic material during the maturation process into a structure known as the polar body in preparation for fusion with the sperm. In the current study the polar bodies observed were unusually large, suggesting that the eggs had not developed normally. 

A further concern was the lack of efficiency of the process. Only 10 percent of the eggs reached final maturity. The authors have also yet to test the developmental potential of the eggs by using them in IVF, which would test the viability of the eggs.

Speaking to the BBC, Professor Telfer said: 'It's very exciting to obtain proof of principle that it's possible to reach this stage in human tissue. But that has to be tempered by the whole lot of work needed to improve the culture conditions and test the quality of the oocytes.'

Independent experts agreed that further refinement will be necessary before the technique can be translated into therapy. 'This latest breakthrough is valuable, [but] significant further research is now needed to confirm that these eggs are healthy and functioning as they should do,' said Professor Helen Picton, professor of reproduction and early development at the University of Leeds, who was not involved in the study.

Professor Robin Lovell-Badge at the Francis Crick Institute in London agreed: 'While this work may contain an important step, many more will have to be taken to reach the destination.'

Related Articles

PET BioNews
Comment
1 November 2021 • 2 minutes read

FILM: Advances in Assisted Reproduction – What Can We Expect?

by BioNews

This film documents a Progress Educational Trust event about the future of assisted reproduction...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
11 December 2020 • 2 minutes read

Human egg cells are often genetically abnormal

by Dr Marieke Bigg

Meiosis, when cells divide to produce eggs, goes wrong much more than previously thought...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
2 July 2018 • 2 minutes read

'Artificial ovary' for humans passes key milestone

by Shaoni Bhattacharya

Scientists have successfully supported human follicles — the precursors of egg cells — on a bioengineered ovarian 'scaffold' for the first time. The work is an important proof-of-concept, which may pave the way for developing artificial ovaries for

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
19 March 2018 • 1 minute read

Second freezer failure at US fertility centre

by Jen Willows

A second US fertility clinic has reported a malfunction of a tank used to store frozen eggs and embryos...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
16 March 2018 • 2 minutes read

UK region cuts IVF for couples with obese male partner

by Chandni Patel

The Bath and North East Somerset clinical commissioning group (CCG) has said that it will restrict IVF access to couples where the male partner has a BMI of less than 30...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
26 February 2018 • 2 minutes read

Women selected for mitochondrial donation in UK

by Dr Sam Sherratt

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has granted permission for doctors to create the UK's first 'three-person' children by mitochondrial donation.

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts equipment used for embryo biopsy.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts equipment used for embryo biopsy.
Comment
6 February 2018 • 4 minutes read

Beyond the Mediterranean diet: Improving IVF success in women with higher BMI

by Dr Thanos Papathanasiou

Being a healthy weight, eating a varied diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, taking regular exercise and cutting alcohol — is all good advice for everyone. But the direct influence on these factors on the fertility of both men and women, highlighte

Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family (from Greek and Roman mythology) entwined in coils of DNA.
Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family entwined in coils of DNA (based on the figure of Laocoön from Greek and Roman mythology).
News
5 February 2018 • 2 minutes read

First primates clones using 'Dolly method' created in China

by Dr Rachel Huddart

Chinese scientists have announced the successful cloning of monkeys using the same method which produced Dolly the Sheep over 20 years ago...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
30 January 2018 • 2 minutes read

Fresh embryos just as good as frozen for women without PCOS

by Georgia Everett

Using fresh embryos in IVF gives the same chance of a live birth as using frozen embryos for ovulatory women, according to two new studies...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

« Scientists film brain stem cells dividing into neurons for first time

Data-Label The UK's Leading Supplier Of Medical Labels & Asset Labels

RetiringDentist.co.uk The UK's Leading M&A Company.

Find out how you can advertise here
easyfundraising
amazon

This month in BioNews

  • Popular
  • Recent
13 June 2022 • 2 minutes read

Drop in diversity of blood stem cells leads to old-age health issues

1 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

First UK medical guidelines issued for trans fertility preservation

1 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Common virus may be cause of recent hepatitis cases in children

1 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Male age has more impact on IVF birth rate than previously thought

1 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

CRISPR genome editing treatments may raise cancer risk

1 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Differences in IVF-conceived children's size disappear by adolescence

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2022 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
PET PET

PET is an independent charity that improves choices for people affected by infertility and genetic conditions.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Navigation

  • About Us
  • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • BioNews
  • Events
  • Engagement
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us

BioNews

  • News
  • Comment
  • Reviews
  • Elsewhere
  • Topics
  • Glossary
  • Newsletters

Other

  • My Account
  • Subscribe

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2022 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856