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In future, men may have no role in making babies

An Australian scientist has produced ground-breaking research showing babies can theoretically be conceived without any help from men.

After two years' work on the project at Melbourne's Monash University, embryologist Dr Orly Lacham-Kaplan told reporters Wednesday she had shown that female mice could conceive through the use of cells other than sperm.

She said it was theoretically possible that a human cell from any part of the body, including that of another woman, could be used to fertilise a woman's eggs.

However, Lacham-Kaplan believed it would be another year before it is established if the technique was safe and posed no risk of physical disorders or jeopardised the child's ability to reproduce.

She anticipated more failure and difficulties than success in her research, but was pleased with her progress so far.

The technique could also allow lesbian couples to have their own biological children, she said. She said she would prefer if the technique was eventually used to help infertile couples, but said she would leave discussion about whether it should be used in a lesbian relationship to others.

Lacham-Kaplan began developing the technique after years of work with infertile men.

The discovery has already prompted debate in the international scientific community and raised fears that it could result in genetic abnormalities.

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