In a pioneering study, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing have successfully created mice with two fathers using CRISPR gene-editing technology. The team, led by Zhi-Kun Li, targeted 20 imprinted genes crucial for embryonic development. Out of 164 gene-edited embryos transferred to surrogate mothers, only seven live pups were born. These mice, while surviving to adulthood, exhibited abnormalities: they were larger than normal, had enlarged organs, and were infertile. The study, published in Cell Stem Cell, marks the second method scientists have used to create bi-paternal mice, following a previous approach by Katsuhiko Hayashi’s team in Japan. Despite the limited success, this research sheds light on the complex phenomenon of genetic imprinting, where genes are expressed differently depending on their parental origin. However, the approach used would be considered too risky for human applications due to potential health consequences.
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