Scientists have been able to find the genetic process that is capable of passing down the fat gene from father to child through sperm.
A team of Danish researchers have managed to discover a link between the father’s sperm quality and obesity in a child’s later life. Sperm markers can tell if you child will be obese even if the father underwent a weight-loss surgical procedure.
The researchers, hailing from the University of Copenhagen wanted to ascertain how a father can pass down the “fat” genes to its child by the means of his sperm. In order to pull off such an intriguing experiment, the scientists took a closer look at something called the epigenetic information.
Epigenetics refers to a whole field of study. It refers to the study of how variations in our living environment could trigger cells to go on or to go off. Moreover, this field of study also looks at how our own cells are capable of deciphering certain genes. Using this piece of information, the team of scientists observed how weight variations impacted the epigenetic information, transmitted from father to son.
The study enrolled approximately 23 members. In order to see these subtle variations, the team collected sperm samples from 13 men which had a normal constitution and another 10 samples from men that had weight-related issues. Upon placing the harvested samples side by side, the team observed that there are indeed subtle variations in terms of epigenetic information between the two categories. Most of the differences were noted when they searched for those markers that play a leading role in brain function and development.
Furthermore, in order to put a lid on this project, the researchers managed to analyze six additional sperm samples belonging to overweight men that have undergone fat-reduction surgery. The results can’t be called anything else but astonishing.
On an average, the researchers found approximately 5000 difference in epigenetic markers, in all of the three enrolled groups. This study can be easily used in order to prove that the father’s genetic material is very important to the baby’s development. Also, it would seem that we are dealing with a medical novelty. Specialists declared that this is the first study which argues that there is a direct link between the environment, a father’s procreational capabilities and the child’s process of development.
In conclusion, the study comes to stress out the fact that if the father had weigh-related problems, these issues could be easily transmitted to its child. Medical instances are now thinking of how they can put these result to use.
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