Fertilization News and Research

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Study Reveals a Unique Mode of Reproduction that Produces Chimeric Males in Yellow Crazy Ants

Male yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes) are chimeras of two separate genetic lineages, researchers report in a study that reveals a unique mode of reproduction in this species – one previously unknown to science.

7 Apr 2023

Male Beetles Neglect Maintenance of Gametes When Competing for Mating Opportunities

Male beetles face a trade-off between competing with other males for mating opportunities and repairing damage to their sperm DNA, according to a study publishing April 4th in the open access journal PLOS Biology by Mareike Koppik from Uppsala University, Sweden, and colleagues.

5 Apr 2023

Deactivating mosquito sperm to control populations of Culex

New UC Riverside research makes it likely that proteins responsible for activating mosquito sperm can be shut down, preventing them from swimming to or fertilizing eggs.

22 Mar 2023

Deciphering the mechanisms used by a fungus to increase iron acquisition

The University of Cordoba discovered how the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhiziumbrunneum increases iron acquisition in melon and cucumber.

15 Mar 2023

Robust method for induced pluripotent stem cell culture

Different types of cells, such as the heart, liver, blood, and sperm cells, have characteristics that help them perform their specific functions in the body. In general, those traits are hard-wired. A heart cell will not randomly transform into a liver cell if not stimulated.

23 Feb 2023

U.S. people show interest in using genetic technologies to improve offspring education

An article published today in the journal Science indicates that a substantial proportion of Americans are willing to use an essentially unregulated reproductive genetic technology to increase the chances of having a baby who is someday admitted to a top-100 ranked college.

10 Feb 2023

“Reference Epigenome” and regulatory mechanisms in wheat embryogenesis

One of the most basic and amazing processes that occur in both plants and animals is embryogenesis. It is incredible that, within a matter of weeks after fertilization, a single mother egg cell can transform into a living thing with a complex body structure.

6 Feb 2023

New insights into the regulatory mechanisms of cell fate decisions

The Babraham Institute’s Reik lab’s study has improved the understanding of the function of DNA methylation during the early stages of development.

29 Sep 2022

Excess carbon in the atmosphere has increased wood volume of forests

Trees have long been known to buffer humans from the worst effects of climate change by pulling carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Now new research shows just how much forests have been bulking up on that excess carbon.

28 Sep 2022

The biological advantages of sperm swimming in groups

Sperm actually swim better together when they are swimming against the current. Contrary to common belief, spermatozoa frequently cooperate to go through the female reproductive system in a variety of mammalian species, contradicting the notion that the fastest and fittest male reproductive cell wins the fertilization race.

22 Sep 2022

Applying AI technology to boost Florida’s ailing citrus industry

As news broke that Florida's citrus industry ended this year's growing season with its lowest production in eight decades, an unlikely union has formed between two University of Florida startup companies to help reverse the trend.

25 Jul 2022

Research finds mechanism triggering flowering plants to produce fruits and seeds

Food production has grown more and more challenging for producers throughout the globe due to rising global temperatures and declining pollinator populations.

14 Jul 2022

Unraveling sex determination in Bursaphelenchus nematodes: A path towards pest-control

The mechanisms underlying sex determination in nematodes, commonly known as roundworms, have not been fully understood.

23 Jun 2022

New framework to boost crop growth by incorporating strategies from a fast-growing algal species

A new study provides a framework to boost crop growth by incorporating a strategy adopted from a fast-growing species of green algae.

20 May 2022

Using a microfluidic chip for selection of healthy sperm based on positive rheotaxis

The female genital tract can be a hostile environment for conception. Out of about 100 million sperm, only a few hundred make it to the fallopian tubes.

1 Apr 2022

Researchers discover new stem cell population that closely matches existing human stem cells

Reik lab researchers’ recent discovery describes a new subpopulation of human embryonic stem cells that closely match the cells present at the genomic “wake up call” of the 8-cell embryo stage in humans.

28 Feb 2022

Researchers elucidate how early embryo cells begin to independently produce proteins

It happens in the first hours after fertilization: The cells of the early embryo begin to independently produce proteins, the building blocks for cells and organs.

16 Feb 2022

Scientists examine key mechanisms underlying genomic imprinting

Hereditary diseases, along with cancers and cardiovascular diseases, may be linked to genomic imprinting.

13 Jan 2022

BioDock; Paving the Way for Sample Storage

In this interview, we speak to Matt Mosey, an account manager for BioDock, about the importance of sample storage and its many benefits for researchers.

From BioDock 22 Dec 2021

Developing Sperm Cells from Primate Stem Cells

We speak to Professor Charles Easley about his latest research into male infertility, and how sperm cells could be potentially developed from primate stem cells.

From University of Georgia 15 Dec 2021