For the first time, a group of researchers at the University of Edinburgh say they have grown human eggs in a laboratory. The team says the technique could lead to new ways of preserving the fertility of children having cancer treatment. It also provides scientists with the opportunity to learn how human eggs develop, which currently remains a mystery. Though it is an exciting breakthrough, experts say more work is needed before it can be used clinically. Only 10 percent of the eggs in the lab completed the journey to maturity, and the eggs have not been fertilized, so it is uncertain how viable they are.
Prof Evelyn Telfer, one of the researchers, told the BBC: “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 [eggs].”
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