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Comment by snacktaster | Hacker News Reader

female mice were genetically engineered to produce sperm and a penis and be attracted to each other for mating. they had some babies that didnt die immediately (but they were mentally retarded). they tried the same thing with male mice but it didnt work

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I think you may be reading a different article. I just read it and don't see anything about them engineering the female mice to produce sperm and a penis as you note. Rather it says, "It was easier with double mums. The researchers took an egg from one mouse and a special type of cell - a haploid embryonic stem cell - from another. Both contained only half the required genetic instructions or DNA, but just bringing them together wasn't enough. The researchers had to use a technology called gene editing to delete three sets of genetic instructions to make them compatible." Also it "did work" with the male mice it notes, however they died a few days later, vs the females who had healthy babies that went on to have their own babies.

This is incorrect. Actually, the method used looks a lot like traditional cloning, with some gene editing thrown in:

    The researchers took an egg from one mouse and a special type of cell - a haploid embryonic stem cell - from another.
    Both contained only half the required genetic instructions or DNA, but just bringing them together wasn't enough.
    The researchers had to use a technology called gene editing to delete three sets of genetic instructions to make them compatible.

oh i was thinking of a different experiment

Please link the other experiment

What? No.

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