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 come up with a novel technique to produce single-sex litters

Researchers from the Francis Crick Institute along with the University of Kent utilized gene-editing technology to produce male-only and female-only mice litter with 100% efficacy.

7 Dec 2021

Exposure to cannabis vapor reduces sperm counts and motility in two generations of mice

An intense but short-term exposure to cannabis vapor lowered sperm counts and slowed sperm movement, or motility, not only in the directly exposed male mice but also in their sons.

6 Dec 2021

New technique could dramatically speed up the breeding of new crops

Scientists are a step closer to breeding plants with genes from only one parent. New research led by plant biologists at the University of California, Davis, published Nov. 19 in Science Advances, shows the underlying mechanism behind eliminating half the genome and could make for easier and more rapid breeding of crop plants with desirable traits such as disease resistance.

From The University of California, Davis 22 Nov 2021

De Novo Mutations may Play a Role in Male Infertility

In this interview, we speak to Dr. Miguel J. Xavier about his latest research into male infertility and how de novo mutations may play a part.

From Newcastle University 19 Nov 2021

Scientists identify gene crucial to sperm cell production

Scientists at Cincinnati Children's appear to have flipped another piece in the underexplored puzzle of male infertility.

27 Oct 2021

Mice study shows how air pollution reduces sperm count by causing brain inflammation

Researchers have long known that air pollution can increase the risk of disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and fertility, but they did not know the exact mechanism for how it can lead to these health conditions.

26 Oct 2021

Functional sperm cells can be made in a dish using primate embryonic stem cells, study shows

With global rates of male infertility continuing to rise, a new study in spermatogonial stem cell research led by researchers at the University of Georgia provides hope for future clinical therapies.

From University of Georgia 20 Oct 2021

Genome editing tool used to render male mosquitoes infertile and slow disease spread

Mosquitos spread viruses that cause potentially deadly diseases such as Zika, dengue fever and yellow fever. New U.S. Army-funded research uses gene editing to render certain male mosquitoes infertile and slow the spread of these diseases.

24 Aug 2021

Researchers reveal how ubiquitous signaling molecule plays a critical role in male fertility

Mammalian sperm cannot fertilize an egg from the get-go. It's an ability acquired only after insemination, during passage through the female reproductive tract, and requires two consecutive, time-sensitive processes to provide sperm with the physical and biochemical traits necessary to complete their fundamental job.

From UC San Diego 20 Aug 2021

Study describes a new method for identifying sperm mutations that can cause disease in children

Throughout development, life and the processes of aging, all human cells accumulate mutations, resulting in what is called mosaicism, a condition in which different cells in the same person have different DNA sequences or genetic makeup.

16 Aug 2021

Researchers characterize a new membrane found within the pollen grain

The process of reproduction in flowering plants is well known for over 120 years. Yet, there exist many mysteries to uncover.

3 Aug 2021

New microscopy method to observe the movement of fast biological processes in 3D

Scientists have come up with a method that enables the use of multi-focal images to reconstruct the movement of fast biological processes in 3D.

29 Jul 2021

Prevalent protein in the blood plays a vital role in human fertilization, infection resistance

Albumin activates a proton channel which allows sperm to penetrate and fertilize an egg and white blood cells to secrete large amounts of inflammatory mediators.

23 Jun 2021

More informed choices of contraceptives can prevent breast cancer

Hormonal contraceptives, e.g. the pill, the patch, and the vaginal ring, contain synthetic hormones that prevent pregnancy by either stopping ovulation, changing the cervical mucus to stop sperm from passing through the cervix and finding an egg, or changing the womb's lining to prevent a fertilized egg from being implanted in it.

31 May 2021

Three-dimensional organization of genome is extremely dynamic during gamete formation

Inside the nuclei of cells, the genome is tightly organized (packaged). This three-dimensional (3D) genome organization is basic because it controls gene expression.

21 May 2021

New way to study uterine fluid in the lab could avoid invasive procedures during pregnancy

The quest to create safer, more successful pregnancies is one of the top goals of modern science. While pregnancy is better understood today than ever before, with improvements in technology helping to lower the risk of negative outcomes, there is much researchers still don't know about a vital part of the pregnancy process: uterine fluid.

13 May 2021

Exploring the Genetic effects of Chernobyl Radiation

In this interview, AZoLifeSciences speaks to researchers from the National Cancer Institute about their latest research that investigated the genetic effects of Chernobyl radiation.

From National Cancer Institute (NCI) 13 May 2021

Cutting-edge genomic tools used to investigate health effects of Chernobyl radiation exposure

In two landmark studies, researchers have used cutting-edge genomic tools to investigate the potential health effects of exposure to ionizing radiation, a known carcinogen, from the 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine.

From National Cancer Institute (NCI) 23 Apr 2021

Study reveals mechanism that regulates genes on sex chromosomes

In the human population, males have one X and one Y chromosomes and females have two X chromosomes. As a result, somatic cells have unique mechanisms that maintain the same gene expression levels on the X chromosome between both genders.

10 Mar 2021

Natural compound acts as reversible male contraceptive pill

Researchers have developed a novel approach that has resulted in the discovery of a natural compound that acts as a male contraceptive agent.

5 Mar 2021