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.

High BMI leads to epigenetic changes, study shows

The extra pounds you gain during the holidays will not only show up on your hips but will also affect your DNA.

22 Dec 2016

Fly study shows RNA pathway plays major role in normal health and longevity

Humans and other animals carry rogue sequences of DNA in their genomes called transposable elements. To prevent passing TEs to their offspring, they employ the piRNA pathway in their reproductive organs to block the elements from being active in their sperm and eggs.

21 Dec 2016

Factors that impact fertility in men

Starting a family can be a stressful process, and there are things that can affect your plans that you may not have considered. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 18 percent of men who sought help with a fertility specialist were diagnosed with a male-related infertility.

8 Dec 2016

Scientists uncover changes in immediate environment of DNA after fertilization

A team of scientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum München shows changes in the immediate environment of DNA after the ovum and sperm fuse to form the zygote. The results suggest why all conceivable somatic cells can develop from the germ cells. The study has been published in the journal 'Genes and Development'.

6 Dec 2016

Sperm tail enzymes inspire nanobiotechnology

Just like workers in a factory, enzymes can create a final product more efficiently if they are stuck together in one place and pass the raw material from enzyme to enzyme, assembly line-style.

2 Dec 2016

Scientists discover unique genomic changes integral to testicular cancer development

Researchers led by scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute say they have identified unique genomic changes that may be integral to testicular cancer development and explain why the great majority are highly curable with chemotherapy - unlike most solid tumors.

1 Dec 2016

Prohibiting anonymous sperm donation could lead to decline in number of donors, study suggests

A new study published in the Journal of Law and the Biosciences suggests that prohibiting anonymous sperm donation would result in a decline in the number of donors, and that those willing to donate would likely demand compensation for donation.

30 Nov 2016

Editing preferences of enzymes may play role in infertility and cancer

To "turn off" particular regions of genes or protect them from damage, DNA strands can wrap around small proteins, called histones, keeping out all but the most specialized molecular machinery.

28 Nov 2016

Men lack knowledge about risk factors contributing to male infertility, study finds

The first large-scale study of its kind has revealed that Canadian men generally lack knowledge about the risk factors contributing to male infertility.

23 Nov 2016

Men have positive attitude towards new male contraceptive, study finds

A new study has found that men have positive attitudes towards an innovative male contraceptive, Vasalgel. The landmark study, published in Cogent Medicine, is the first insight into how men perceive the new contraceptive and gives promising signs that Vasalgel may revolutionise approaches to reproductive health.

2 Nov 2016

Zika virus infection can break down and damage testes of male mice, new research shows

New research in male mice has revealed that Zika virus infection can break down and severely damage the animals' testes.

1 Nov 2016

New sperm research could lead to better infertility treatment decisions

Sperm and mathematics don't appear to be the likeliest of bedfellows - but new research bringing the two together could lead to devices that could cut infertility rates.

31 Oct 2016

Men can take contraceptives to prevent pregnancy in female partners, study shows

Men can take birth control shots to prevent pregnancy in their female partners, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

27 Oct 2016

Kent State scientists receive new NIH grants for reproductive biology research

It could be argued that no science is more valuable to us than that which helps to ensure the survival of our species by solving the problems that challenge it.

25 Oct 2016

Episona unveils first innovative new male fertility test at ASRM 2016

Episona Inc., an epigenetics data company focused on improving outcomes in reproductive health, announced today the launch of Seed, an innovative new male fertility test, at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Scientific Congress& Expo.

19 Oct 2016

Network of proteins linked to cancer may play vital role in male fertility

Researchers studying reproductive science identified a network of proteins often linked to cancer as also important to male fertility and the birth of healthy offspring, according to a study in the Oct. 18 online issue of Cell Reports.

19 Oct 2016

Babies born to older women from assisted reproduction have fewer birth defects, research finds

Babies born to women aged 40 and over from assisted reproduction have fewer birth defects compared with those from women who conceive naturally at the same age, according to new research from the University of Adelaide.

17 Oct 2016

Researchers develop new technique that measures speed of rotating semen

The maths of collective behaviour has provided a new technique for selecting the best semen for artificial insemination in livestock.

17 Oct 2016

Researchers confirm long persistence of Zika virus in semen and reveal its presence within spermatozoa

Recent work has shown that Zika virus persists in semen for up to 6 months after infection. In a correspondence published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, the researchers, in addition to confirming its long persistence in semen (in this case for more than 130 days, i.e., over 4 months), reveal the presence of the virus even within spermatozoa.

4 Oct 2016