Knoxville: Scientists at the University of Tennessee have grown human eggs from ovary cells.

The research may lead to improved methods of treating infertility and delaying the menopause. Cells were taken from the surface of the ovaries in women aged between 39 and 52 and grown in a hormone-rich solution.

The researchers say the eggs were capable of being fertilised and could lead to a limitless supply of eggs for IVF treatment.

Professor Antonin Bukovsky, who led the research, said that further trials were needed before the eggs could be made available for use in patients.