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.

Scientists Uncover How Marine Invertebrates Bypass Mammalian Epigenetic Rules

Typically, the information encoded in DNA allows organisms to develop, function and pass traits across generations.

3 Jun 2026

Researchers Map an Unprecedented Gene Journey From the X to Y Chromosome

The humble Y chromosome may be the smallest chromosome in the mammalian genome (and getting even smaller), but it is mighty: genes on the Y chromosome are critical for fertility in males.

2 Jun 2026

Uncovering How Box Jellyfish Reproduce at the Microscopic Level

Box jellyfish are commonly regarded as dangerous animals, with certain species capable of delivering severe or even lethal stings.

1 Jun 2026

Cells Sense Abnormal RNA Patterns to Silence Jumping Genes

Transposons, DNA sequences that can self-replicate and move (jump) throughout the genome, are widespread and can affect cell survival if left unchecked. Cells control these "jumping genes" by silencing them, but little was known about how cells recognize and defend themselves from invading transposons.

27 May 2026

New Epigenetic Study Discovers Inheritance Patterns That Defy Mendel's Laws

Scientists have long known that the DNA code in genes is not the only way to pass genetic traits from parents to offspring.

21 May 2026

Protein Plays Dual Role by Silencing Thousands of Genes While Keeping Vital Ones Active

The causes of male infertility can be hard to diagnose, with many tests failing to detect genetic defects. Sometimes, infertility doesn't even involve the genes themselves. It can arise from improper folding of the father's DNA in the sperm. If a couple conceives, this mispackaged DNA can damage the lifelong health of the child.

21 May 2026

Epigenetic Changes May Influence Inheritance Beyond DNA Sequence Alone

When we think about genetic inheritance, we usually leap to DNA, the four-letter code containing the instructions for building a living organism.

11 May 2026

Pronuclei Size Competition Maintains Gene Regulation in Early Embryos

The sperm and the egg cell's nuclei compete for size directly after fertilization and this is necessary for the proper embryonic development.

30 Apr 2026

Genetic Analysis Reveals Why Haploid Fish Embryos Fail to Survive

Naturally occurring haploids are predominantly documented in plants; the first report dates to 1923, when haploid individuals were identified in the Jimson Weed.

27 Mar 2026

Microgravity Negatively Impacts Sperm Navigation

Having a baby in space may require a bit more direction, with new Adelaide University research revealing the navigational abilities of sperm are negatively impacted by a lack of gravity.

27 Mar 2026

Study Uncovers How "Selfish Chromosomes" Cheat the Rules of Genetic Inheritance

A new University of Utah-led study has discovered the mechanism behind a decades-old evolutionary mystery-how "selfish chromosomes" cheat the rules of genetic inheritance.

16 Mar 2026

Scientists Discover Unique Chromosome Reorganization in Developing Germ Cells

Researchers at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) and Imperial College London have shown for the first time that, before they can start developing into egg and sperm cells, the embryonic precursors of these cells uniquely reshape the 3D organization of their genetic material.

23 Feb 2026

Small RNAs in the Sperm Guide the Earliest Stages of Embryonic Development

Mounting evidence from research on nematodes to mice indicate that a father's environment, such as what he eats or if he is exposed to stress or toxicants, can lead to metabolic and behavioral disorders in his offspring.

20 Feb 2026

Visualizing Real-Time DNA Transcription in a Living Mouse

DNA can be regarded as an extensive library that contains all genetic information. Cells do not utilize this information simultaneously.

30 Jan 2026

Hidden Sperm RNA Remodeling With Age May Impact Next Generation

Increasing paternal age has been linked to elevated health risks for the next generation, including higher risks of obesity and stillbirth. But what drives this increased risk remains unknown.

21 Jan 2026

Gene Transcription Start Sites Identified as Hidden Mutational Hotspots

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.

27 Nov 2025

Plant Cell Duality: Balancing Adaptability in Skin Cells with Stability in Reproductive Cells

Mutations drive evolution, but they can also be risky. New research led by plant biologists at the University of California, Davis, published Nov. 10 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals how plants control mutation rates in different stem cells to balance adaptability with safety and stability.

13 Nov 2025

Scientists Uncover How "P Bodies" Guide Stem Cells to Their Destinies

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 Unlocks Diagnoses for Rare Conditions

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.

4 Nov 2025