Nuclear transfer embryo formation method
AssigneeTrustees of Tufts College
InventorsEric W. Overstrom, Daniela Fischer Russell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A nuclear transfer embryo is formed by destabilizing microtubules of an oocyte, whereby essentially all endogenous chromatin collects at a second polar body during meiosis of an oocyte. The oocyte is fused with the nucleus of a donor somatic cell of the same species of said oocyte prior to cessation of extrusion of the second polar body from the oocyte, thereby forming the nuclear transfer embryo. In one embodiment, the nuclear transfer embryo is employed to impregnate an animal, such as a mammal. In another embodiment, the donor nucleus is transgenic.
Claims20
A method of forming a nuclear transfer embryo, comprising the steps of:
- a) destabilizing microtubules of an oocyte, whereby all endogenous nuclear chromatin collects at a second polar body during meiosis of said oocyte;
- and
- b) combining the oocyte with at least the nucleus of a donor cell of the same species of said oocyte before a protrusion of the second polar body containing all of the endogenous nuclear chromatin ceases, thereby forming a nuclear transfer embryo containing the nucleus of the donor cells wherein the endogenous nuclear chromatin of the oocyte is in the second polar body.
A method of forming a non-human, mammalian nuclear transfer embryo, comprising the steps of:
- a) destabilizing microtubules of an oocyte, whereby all endogenous nuclear genetic material collects at a second polar body during meiosis of said oocyte;
- and
- b) combining the oocyte with at least the nucleus of a donor somatic cell of the same species of said oocyte before protrusion of the second polar body containing all of the endogenous nuclear chromatin ceases, thereby forming a nuclear transfer embryo.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.