Would it be possible...

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jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: zephyrprime
I should be doable but the thing is, lesbians would only be able to have female chidren while gay men could have either male or female children.

yes, but lesbians hate men so it would work out OK ;)
 

ant80

Senior member
Dec 4, 2001
411
0
0
That was kinda the point I meant to raise... technically, while producing an offspring, it still took genetic material from 3 people rather than just 2 gay males to produce it. (Or could you remove all the mitochondrial DNA? Or, somehow replace it?)

I dont think it is possible, or even necessary, to remove all the mitochondrial DNA. Besides, mitochondrial reproduction cycle is independent of the cellular reproduction cycle. Also, since mitochondria have evolved from absorption of unnicellular organisms, it is going to be the same for both male and female. No X-Y issues faced by mitochondria. However, if the surrogate mother has any problems with her mitochondrial DNA, the child would inherit that as well.
 

bwanaaa

Senior member
Dec 26, 2002
739
1
81
when someone was talking about GATACCA above I first thought it was a particular DNA sequence coding for a specific DNA function...but then I remembered the movie.

Anyway, ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) has been done for years. Cant see why you cant do it with an ovum nucleus. When we run out of downtrodden immigrants to financially abuse by giving them the menial dirty jobs, maybe we'll create superchimps that can collect our garbage? or better yet, smartroaches?!
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
11
81
Originally posted by: zephyrprime
I should be doable but the thing is, lesbians would only be able to have female chidren while gay men could have either male or female children.
So maybe those far-out science fiction stories were true!
 

cricky

Senior member
Nov 9, 1999
641
0
0
Wikipedia for parthenogenesis.

Maybe science will find the way to pass this on to humans. It kind of kills the offspring's ability to reproduce, so obviously it is used as a last ditch effort for a species to continue. (only 20% of turkey offspring from parthenogenesis are able to reproduce...)