The findings raise significant ethical questions about genetic engineering, particularly regarding its future implications for human reproduction.

The research contributes to the understanding of genomic imprinting, a biological phenomenon that influences gene expression based on parental origin.

Chinese scientists have successfully created adult mice with two fathers through a groundbreaking technique known as embryonic stem cell engineering.

This innovative process involved culturing sperm DNA to produce stem cells, editing genes with CRISPR, and injecting the modified cells into egg cells that had their nuclei removed.

This achievement marks the second method to create bi-paternal mice, following similar research conducted by a team in Japan.

If further developed, this research could enable gay men to have children biologically related to both parents, although currently, it is limited to mice.

Co-author Guan-Zheng Luo suggests that additional genetic modifications could lead to healthy bi-paternal mice capable of reproduction, potentially transforming cloning and fertility treatments.

While the study's results are promising, only a small percentage of viable embryos developed to birth, and those that survived to adulthood exhibited altered growth and sterility.

This experiment demonstrates a novel method that allows manipulation of genes typically requiring both male and female parental inheritance.

The research not only facilitates the creation of bi-paternal mice but also improves pluripotency in embryonic stem cells, paving the way for advancements in regenerative medicine.

Experts note that technical challenges and potential health risks make human application of this research a distant prospect.

Current ethical guidelines prohibit heritable genome editing for reproductive purposes, limiting the application of these findings to human disease.