Male rats from China were able to bear cubs
Chinese scientists conducted a unique experiment, as a result of which a male rat was able to become pregnant and give birth to offspring. Cubs were born by cesarean section, they are no different from ordinary rat pups, reports The Daily Mail.
Scientists at the Shanghai Naval Medical University said the experience could have “profound effects on reproductive biology.” They created the so-called parabiotic pair, that is, they connected a male and a female rat and combined their bloodstream. Then the male was transplanted a uterus and several embryos were implanted there.
Pregnancy lasted 21.5 days (standard term). Ten out of 27 embryos survived. They reached adulthood and were able to reproduce without experiencing serious heart, lung, or liver disease.
Male pregnancy is incredibly rare but not exclusive in nature. It is found in seahorses.
It was believed that mammals were not capable of this. The new experiment refuted this, but caused numerous criticism from the scientific community due to moral and ethical considerations.
Earlier it became known that a “chimera” was created in China. Scientists have been able to combine human stem cells with a monkey embryo.
