BBC Inside Science Are embryos made from skin cells the future of fertility treatment?
11 snips
Oct 30, 2025 Dr. Geraldine Jowett, a reproductive biologist at Cambridge, and Emily Jackson, a law professor at LSE, delve into groundbreaking research where skin cells are transformed into early-stage human embryos. They discuss the implications for infertility treatments, ethical concerns, and necessary legal changes. Journalist David Hambling examines modern drone technologies and the concept of a 'drone wall' for defense, while Caroline Steele highlights recent scientific discoveries, including a potential nitrogen atmosphere on an exoplanet and a new vaccine for koalas.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Mitomyosis Creates Haploid Cells From Skin
- Researchers forced adult skin cells through a process called mitomyosis to produce haploid cells resembling eggs.
- Most resulting cells had chromosomal abnormalities, so the technique currently yields very low correct outcomes.
Chromosome Errors Threaten Viability
- Chromosomal errors were common after mitomyosis, including trisomies and uneven counts.
- Such abnormalities are usually lethal or highly detrimental for embryo health and fertility.
Legal Change Needed For Lab Gametes
- UK law currently permits only sperm and eggs from testes or ovaries for fertility treatments.
- Parliament would have to change the law before lab-derived gametes could be used clinically, and safety would be central.
