Scientists Create Mammalian Cells With Single Chromosome Set

Researchers have created mammalian cells containing a single set of chromosomes for the first time. The technique should allow scientists to better establish the relationships between genes and their function.

Now, in research published in the journal Nature, Drs Anton Wutz and Martin Leeb from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research at the University of Cambridge report a technique which enables them to create stem cells containing just a single set of chromosomes from an unfertilised mouse egg cell. The stem cells can be used to identify mutations in genes that affect the cells' behaviour in culture. In an additional step, the cells can potentially be implanted into the mouse for studying the change in organs and tissues.

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