Killer sperm try to poison rivals in life or death competition to reach egg
Researchers investigating mouse sperm found that a selfish genetic variant allows some to poison their competitors in a literal life or death race to reach the egg first
Researchers found some mouse sperm try to poison their rivals (Image: Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF)
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Study Finds
Sperm ‘switch’ would allow men to turn their fertility on and off
BERLIN, Germany The biological race between sperm to reach an egg is a fierce and competitive process. Now, researchers in Germany say they have discovered which protein gives sperm the winning edge. Their study finds a molecular “switch” in sperm could also allow men to turn their fertility on and off.
Experiments on mice find the “winner” carries a set of toxic mutations that poison rival sperm. Researchers say a genetic factor called “t-haplotype” promotes the success of the sperm carrying it. They are also fueled by a protein called RAC1, the molecular switch that propels sperm forward.
Hiirte seemnerakud mürgitavad oma konkurente novaator.err.ee - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from novaator.err.ee Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Giftanschlag im Hoden: Die fiesen Tricks der Spermien mdr.de - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mdr.de Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Some sperm use poison to outrace their competitors
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Researchers say that the sperm wining the race to the egg often effectively poisons its competitors on the way. File Photo by Sebastian Kaulitzki/Shutterstock
Feb. 4 (UPI) It turns out that the sperm that win the race to the egg use variants of genetic factors, called distorters, to poison their competitors, according to new research.
Experiments with mouse models suggest a genetic factor called t-haplotype is essential to the production of progressive sperm the ones capable of winning the race
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T-haplotype genes regulate the synthesis of a molecule called RAC1, and the experiments detailed Thursday in the journal PLOS Genetics showed progressive sperm motility requires just the right amount of RAC1.