Is It Possible To Have Two Biological Fathers
In the future two men could create a child without an egg donor. It may be possible for stem cells from a male to be used to produce an egg, allowing for the child to have two biological fathers. Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are stem cells that give rise to sperm or egg cells. SRY is the gene widely known for its sex-determining function, SOX is another family gene called SOX17, which can also play an important role.
It is another regulator of the human PGC like cells, and adjusts the gene, which can alter the fate of those cells. Researchers may be able to manipulate this process and make it possible for two men to father a child biologically. This could be possible by taking PGCs from one father, manipulating SOX17 and making those cells to become oocytes. The male has all of the important information on his copy of the X chromosomes, the egg would be fully functional. The second father would need to provide the sperm sample. Although this is possible, a surrogate would still be needed in order to carry the child.
