Sperm News and Research

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The term sperm refers to the male reproductive cells. In the types of sexual reproduction known as anisogamy and oogamy, there is a marked difference in the size of the gametes with the smaller one being termed the "male" or sperm cell. The human sperm cell is haploid, so that its 23 chromosomes can join the 23 chromosomes of the female egg to form a diploid cell.

Researchers discover new mutation hotspot in the human genome

Researchers have discovered new regions of the human genome particularly vulnerable to mutations. These altered stretches of DNA can be passed down to future generations and are important for how we study genetics and disease.

26 Nov 2025

New sequencing method reveals how transposons move and shape the genome

Cornell researchers have found that a new DNA sequencing technology can be used to study how transposons move within and bind to the genome.

22 Nov 2025

Evidence links severe gum disease to erectile dysfunction and broader men’s health risks

A healthy mouth is also key to a healthy body, as gum disease has been linked to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer's.

20 Nov 2025

Micro-RNA in sperm proves vital for human embryogenesis

The sperm is not a passive supplier of genetic material to the egg. A study from Linköping University, Sweden, shows that certain molecules that come with the sperm, so-called micro-RNA, contribute to the development of the embryo several days after conception. The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, may in the long term contribute to better diagnosis and treatment of involuntary childlessness.

10 Nov 2025

Study reveals how "P bodies" heavily influence a cell's fate

How do stem cells know what to become? Nearly three decades after scientists isolated the first human embryonic stem cells, researchers are still working hard to understand precisely how a single, undifferentiated cell can become any one of the roughly 200 cell types that make up the human body.

4 Nov 2025

New genomic method enables multiple people with rare conditions to receive diagnoses

A new genomic method has enabled multiple people with rare conditions to receive diagnoses that were previously unattainable by identifying complex structural genetic changes that are often missed by standard tests.

3 Nov 2025

Columbia researchers report first successful pregnancy using AI-guided sperm recovery method

Researchers at the Columbia University Fertility Center reported the first successful pregnancy using an AI-guided method they developed to recover sperm in men with azoospermia, in which ejaculate contains little or no sperm.

31 Oct 2025

Innovations and challenges in global contraception and family planning

Contraception and family planning are vital aspects of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Despite major advances in modern contraception over the past 60 years, many gaps remain and the rate of unplanned pregnancies and abortions remains high.

31 Oct 2025

Study: Common test to assess viability of IVF embryos may be flawed

A test deployed in many fertility clinics to assess the viability of embryos for use in IVF is likely to overestimate the number of embryos with abnormalities, suggests a study published today.

23 Oct 2025

Researchers achieve proof of concept for generating eggs from somatic cells

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have accomplished a unique proof of concept to treat infertility by turning skin cells into eggs capable of producing early human embryos.

17 Oct 2025

Review reveals how paternal lifestyle shapes sperm epigenetics and offspring health

A new review in Clinical Epigenetics synthesises growing evidence that paternal lifestyle and environmental exposures such as diet, obesity, smoking, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and stress alter sperm epigenetic marks (DNA methylation, histone retention, and small non-coding RNAs).

17 Oct 2025

What happens when microplastics reach the testes? Study shows autophagy and cell loss

Researchers found that microplastics from everyday plastic tableware accumulate in human semen and, although not linked to semen quality in the full cohort, were associated with altered sperm parameters in specific subgroups. Experimental models confirmed that 50 nm polystyrene particles trigger autophagy and apoptosis via the FOXA1/MAP3K1/p38 pathway, impairing sperm structure and function.

15 Oct 2025

Study uncovers key protein complex controlling sperm motility and male fertility

Infertility affects about one in six couples, and male factors account for roughly half of all cases-often because sperm don't swim well.

13 Oct 2025

New insights into sperm metabolism could transform infertility treatments

Michigan State University scientists have pinpointed the molecular "switch" that supercharges sperm for their final sprint to an egg - a breakthrough that could reshape infertility treatments and pave the way for safe, nonhormonal male contraceptives.

10 Oct 2025

Lifestyle choices and hormonal imbalances can impact men's reproductive health

A new research paper was published in Volume 12 of Oncoscience on September 30, 2025, titled "Lifestyle and hormonal factors affecting semen quality and sperm DNA integrity: A cross-sectional study."

10 Oct 2025

Refined DNA sequencing tool reveals hidden mutations behind aging and cancer

Researchers have refined a powerful DNA sequencing tool that can uncover hidden mutations that occur naturally in our bodies as we age.

8 Oct 2025

Harmful DNA changes in the sperm found to rise sharply with age

Harmful genetic changes in sperm become substantially more common as men age because some are actively favored during sperm production, new research has revealed.

8 Oct 2025

Paternal exercise enhances offspring endurance through sperm microRNAs

In a recent study published in Cell Metabolism, a collaborative research team led by Chen-Yu Zhang, Xi Chen, and Di-Jun Chen from Nanjing University, together with Tao Zhang from Nanjing Medical University, reported groundbreaking findings in their paper entitled "Paternal exercise confers endurance capacity to offspring through sperm microRNAs."

6 Oct 2025

Fathers who smoked as teens may accelerate their children's biological aging

People whose fathers smoked during puberty seem to age faster than expected, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

29 Sep 2025

Clinical trial disproves claims that antioxidant supplement boosts male fertility

A large Dutch randomized clinical trial (SUMMER) found that a widely marketed antioxidant supplement (Impryl) did not improve ongoing pregnancy rates in men seeking fertility care. Instead, pregnancy success was significantly lower in the critical 4–6 month treatment window, raising safety concerns.

28 Sep 2025