Is Parthenogenesis Possible in Mice Through Single Gene Knockout?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the possibility of parthenogenesis in mice through a single gene knockout, specifically focusing on a study that reports the creation of viable mice from two maternal genomes. Participants explore the implications, definitions, and potential applications of this research.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express confusion about the term "parthenogenesis," questioning how combining two maternal genomes fits the definition, which traditionally refers to offspring development from an unfertilized egg.
  • Others argue that the study aligns with the definition of parthenogenesis, as it involves the development of individuals without male fertilization.
  • A participant highlights the potential implications of this research for same-sex couples, suggesting it could enable new reproductive possibilities.
  • Concerns are raised about the practical applications of this breakthrough, with some questioning its utility beyond theoretical interest.
  • There is skepticism regarding the complexities of genetic imprinting and the challenges associated with creating viable offspring from two female genomes.
  • One participant expresses a strong preference for natural reproduction methods, dismissing the research as unconvincing.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the interpretation of parthenogenesis in this context, with multiple competing views on its definition and implications. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the practical applications and significance of the findings.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the complexities surrounding genetic imprinting and the architecture of male and female genomes, which are not fully understood and may impact the feasibility of parthenogenesis.

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Single gene knockout in dual maternal oocyte results in viable mice, but some doubt study | By Cathy Holding



A study published in the advance online publication of Nature today (April 21) reports the first mouse created by parthenogenesis. But a leading researcher called the results very confusing, saying they raise more questions than answers.

Tomohiro Kono and colleagues from the Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan, report that they knocked out one allele of H19—a maternally expressed gene thought to function as A noncoding mRNA that blocks IN CIS the expression of Igf2—in an oocyte derived solely from two maternal genomes. A normally developed and viable parthenote resulted, suggesting a pivotal role for the paternally imprinted H19 gene in allowing Igf2 expression from the paternal allele and controlling the requirement for a paternal genome, according to the authors.

“When you put these two sets of chromosomes together functionally, the individual would have a father-like genome with the original mother genome, and therefore it works and gives rise to a live offspring,” Patrick Tam, head of the embryology unit at the Children's Medical Research Institute, Westmead, Australia, who wrote an accompanying News and Views article, told The Scientist.

In prior experiments, the Tokyo group had used a maternally imprinted genome and a neutral genome, which still proved to be lethal, according to Wolf Reik, head of developmental genetics and imprinting at the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, UK. “What they are trying to do now is convert the neutral genome into a paternal one by giving it this H19 deletion allele, which allows the neutral genome to express Igf2—and this is clearly a key event that needs to happen here,” said Reik, who was not involved in the study.

http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20040421/01
 
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I haven't gone to read the article, but I'm confused. If they combined TWO maternal genomes, why are they calling it parthenogenesis? My understanding of the term parthenogenetic has always been that it refers to development of offspring from an unfertilized egg, as occurs in many reptilian species.
 
So pretty soon I guess lesbians will be able to have their very own babies!

- Warren
 
This is one of the definition of parthenogenesis

The production of new individuals from virgin females by means of ova which have the power of developing without the intervention of the male element; the production, without fertilization, of cells capable of germination. It is one of the phenomena of alternate generation.

What the team did fits that description, there was no male elements and no fertilization.

The feature in nature has a bit more details http://www.nature.com/nsu/040419/040419-8.html
 
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This is a breakthrough, but what is the practical use for such a process?
 
ShawnD said:
This is a breakthrough, but what is the practical use for such a process?

As part of a "Start your own religion" kit?
 
chroot said:
So pretty soon I guess lesbians will be able to have their very own babies!

- Warren
As I predicted :rolleyes:
"[URL males getting their own genetic baby... a future possibility?
[/url]

I haven't read the research article yet, but I know they had to go through several loops to be able to make a baby mouse from two females. The problem is with genetic imprinting, male and female genomes have a higher level of architecture that is not fully understood.
 
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Monique said:
As I predicted :rolleyes:
"[URL males getting their own genetic baby... a future possibility?
[/url]
I don't even want to ask where it comes out :eek:
 
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This is bog****e! I will still go for le naturelle!