The world, the universe and us This breakthrough could let gay couples have biological kids
Jun 27, 2025
Michael Le Page, a reporter known for his insights into groundbreaking science, discusses a revolutionary experiment showing that healthy mice can be born from two biological fathers. This breakthrough raises exciting possibilities for gay couples wanting biological kids. The conversation also dives into the surprising cognitive benefits of power naps, proving they can boost creativity significantly. Lastly, Le Page shares fascinating details about ancient night lizards, whose survival since the time of dinosaurs sheds light on resilience in the face of extinction.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Mice Born with Two Fathers
- Mice with two fathers created by fusing sperm into an emptied egg, producing healthy fertile offspring.
- This breakthrough could enable same-sex reproduction in mammals, including humans, in the future.
Genomic Imprinting Explains Challenges
- Genomic imprinting causes eggs and sperm to carry epigenetic labels affecting gene use, crucial for embryo development.
- Two sets of chromosomes, maternal and paternal, have different epigenetic markers that must be balanced for normal growth.
CRISPR Epigenome Editing Key
- Researchers used CRISPR-based epigenome editing to modify sperm DNA markers, making two paternal chromosomes mimic normal maternal-paternal sets.
- This approach avoids changing DNA sequences, potentially making same-sex reproduction safer and more acceptable.
