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| First human eggs grown in laboratory | First human eggs grown in laboratory |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Human eggs have been grown in the laboratory for the first time, say researchers at the University of Edinburgh. | Human eggs have been grown in the laboratory for the first time, say researchers at the University of Edinburgh. |
| The team say the technique could lead to new ways of preserving the fertility of children having cancer treatment. | The team say the technique could lead to new ways of preserving the fertility of children having cancer treatment. |
| It is also an opportunity to explore how human eggs develop, much of which remains a mystery to science. | It is also an opportunity to explore how human eggs develop, much of which remains a mystery to science. |
| Experts said it was an exciting breakthrough, but more work was needed before it could be used clinically. | Experts said it was an exciting breakthrough, but more work was needed before it could be used clinically. |
| Women are born with immature eggs in their ovaries that can develop fully only after puberty. | Women are born with immature eggs in their ovaries that can develop fully only after puberty. |
| It has taken decades of work, but scientists can now grow eggs to maturity outside of the ovary. | It has taken decades of work, but scientists can now grow eggs to maturity outside of the ovary. |
| It requires carefully controlling laboratory conditions including oxygen levels, hormones, proteins that simulate growth and the medium in which the eggs are cultured. | It requires carefully controlling laboratory conditions including oxygen levels, hormones, proteins that simulate growth and the medium in which the eggs are cultured. |
| 'Very exciting' | 'Very exciting' |
| But while the scientists have shown it is possible, the approach published in the journal Molecular Human Reproduction still needs refinement. | But while the scientists have shown it is possible, the approach published in the journal Molecular Human Reproduction still needs refinement. |
| It is very inefficient with only 10% of eggs completing their journey to maturity. | It is very inefficient with only 10% of eggs completing their journey to maturity. |
| And the eggs have not been fertilised, so it is uncertain how viable they are. | And the eggs have not been fertilised, 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. | 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]. | "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]. |
| "But apart from any clinical applications, this is a big breakthrough in improving understanding of human egg development." | "But apart from any clinical applications, this is a big breakthrough in improving understanding of human egg development." |
| The process is very tightly controlled and timed in the human body - some eggs will mature during the teenage years, others more than two decades later. | The process is very tightly controlled and timed in the human body - some eggs will mature during the teenage years, others more than two decades later. |
| UK scientists edit DNA of human embryos | |
| First monkey clones created in the lab | |
| First three-parent baby born to infertile couple | |
| An egg needs to lose half its genetic material during development, otherwise there would be too much DNA when it was fertilised by a sperm. | An egg needs to lose half its genetic material during development, otherwise there would be too much DNA when it was fertilised by a sperm. |
| This excess is cast off into a miniature cell called a polar body, but in the study the polar bodies were abnormally large. | This excess is cast off into a miniature cell called a polar body, but in the study the polar bodies were abnormally large. |
| "This is a concern," said Prof Telfer. But it is one she thinks can be addressed by improving the technology. | "This is a concern," said Prof Telfer. But it is one she thinks can be addressed by improving the technology. |
| Work on mouse eggs, which was nailed 20 years ago, showed the technology could be used to produce live animals. | Work on mouse eggs, which was nailed 20 years ago, showed the technology could be used to produce live animals. |
| Matching this achievement in human tissue could eventually be used to help children having cancer treatment. | Matching this achievement in human tissue could eventually be used to help children having cancer treatment. |
| Cancer option | Cancer option |
| Chemotherapy and radiotherapy risks making you sterile. | Chemotherapy and radiotherapy risks making you sterile. |
| Women can freeze matured eggs, or even embryos if they are fertilised with a partner's sperm, before starting treatment - but this is not possible for girls with childhood cancers. | Women can freeze matured eggs, or even embryos if they are fertilised with a partner's sperm, before starting treatment - but this is not possible for girls with childhood cancers. |
| At the moment they can have ovarian tissue frozen before treatment, which is then put back in to mature years later if the patient wants children of their own. | At the moment they can have ovarian tissue frozen before treatment, which is then put back in to mature years later if the patient wants children of their own. |
| But if there are any abnormalities in the frozen sample then doctors will think it is too risky. | But if there are any abnormalities in the frozen sample then doctors will think it is too risky. |
| Being able to make eggs in the lab would be a safer option for those patients. | Being able to make eggs in the lab would be a safer option for those patients. |
| Mr Stuart Lavery, a consultant gynaecologist at Hammersmith Hospital, said: "This work represents a genuine step forward in our understanding. | Mr Stuart Lavery, a consultant gynaecologist at Hammersmith Hospital, said: "This work represents a genuine step forward in our understanding. |
| "Although still in small numbers and requiring optimisation, this preliminary work offers hope for patients." | "Although still in small numbers and requiring optimisation, this preliminary work offers hope for patients." |
| It would be legal to fertilise one of the lab-made eggs to create an embryo for research purposes in the UK. | It would be legal to fertilise one of the lab-made eggs to create an embryo for research purposes in the UK. |
| But the team in Edinburgh do not have a licence to carry out the experiment. They are discussing whether to apply to the embryo authority for one, or collaborate with a centre that already has one. | But the team in Edinburgh do not have a licence to carry out the experiment. They are discussing whether to apply to the embryo authority for one, or collaborate with a centre that already has one. |
| Prof Azim Surani, the director of germline research at University of Cambridge's Gurdon Institute, said: "Molecular characterisation and chromosomal analysis is needed to show how these egg cells compare with normal eggs. | |
| "It might be of interest to test the developmental potential of these eggs in culture to blastocyst stage, by attempting IVF." | "It might be of interest to test the developmental potential of these eggs in culture to blastocyst stage, by attempting IVF." |
| Follow James on Twitter. | Follow James on Twitter. |
| Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Are you the parent of a child receiving cancer treatment? Please share your experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Are you the parent of a child receiving cancer treatment? Please share your experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| You can also contact us in the following ways: | You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or please use the form below: | Or please use the form below: |