Scientists manipulated the fibroblasts (cells that contribute to the formation of connective tissue fibers) of a male (XY) mouse from a male mouse fetus to make an induced pluripotent stem cell line (pluripotent stems cells are cells with the potential to make any cell in the body). These cells lost the Y chromosome and resulted in XO cells that were injected into female mice. The surrogate mothers birthed females missing a chromosome; XO/XX. The offspring all had one X chromosome from the first father that were then mated with the second father. The offspring contained genetic material from two fathers. This new form of mammalian production arises the possibility of reproduction from only two males, preserving species that have no more females, and the possibilityof making human oocytes cells that would eliminate the need for the female, except for carrying the pregnancy. A slightly differentiated process is also possible with two mothers by using iPS to make sperm from a female donor. Hypothesis science, I suppose?
References
Society for the Study of Reproduction. (2010 December 9). Reproductive scientists create mice from 2 fathers. www.biologynews.net. Retrieved: February 7, 2012.
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2010/12/09/reproductive_scientists_create_mice_from_2_fathers.html
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