Scientists have taken a bold leap in reproductive science - creating human eggs in the lab from adult skin cells. The breakthrough, led by Shoukhrat Mitalipov at Oregon Health & Science University, could one day help millions of infertile women or even gay couples have children genetically related to them.

The process, known as in vitro gametogenesis (IVG), used a cloning-style method where DNA from a woman’s skin cell replaced most of the DNA in a donor egg. Researchers then tricked these reconstructed eggs to develop through a unique process called “mitomeiosis”, producing 82 functional eggs. Some were fertilized with sperm, and a few reached the blastocyst stage, a milestone in embryo development.

But there’s a catch - all embryos still carried genetic abnormalities, making them unsuitable for pregnancy. While promising, the research sparks heated debates. Could this lead to “designer babies”? Could someone misuse it to create a child from a stolen skin cell?

Experts say the technology has enormous potential, but its ethical, social, and legal challenges are just as vast. The future of reproduction may never look the same again.