dna
Newsletter
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Heat's impact on male fertility
A recent study highlights the substantial risk extreme heat poses to male fertility, marking a significant concern amid global warming trends.
In short:
- Scientists from Singapore found that exposure to extreme heat significantly increases the risk of low sperm count and concentration, with sperm mobility also affected.
- The research suggests that men in their prime reproductive years, specifically between 25 and 35, are the most vulnerable to these effects.
- Recommendations include avoiding excessive heat, saunas, hot baths, and wearing tight underwear to protect sperm health.
Key quote:
"So just because you're a young male, don't think you're invincible, and don't think you're not also vulnerable to these impacts."
— Dr. Samuel Gunther, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Why this matters:
The testicles, where sperm production occurs, are particularly sensitive to heat. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can disrupt this delicate process, leading to decreased sperm count, impaired sperm motility (movement), and changes in sperm morphology (shape and structure). This can ultimately reduce a man's ability to father children.
Research has shown that heat stress can also damage the DNA within sperm, increasing the risk of genetic abnormalities in offspring.
And it's not just heat — chemicals in our environment are disrupting our hormonal balance, causing varying degrees of reproductive havoc as well.
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Credit: Louis Reed/Unsplash
Exploring environmental DNA's role in pathogen detection
The search for new pathogens leads scientists to analyze environmental DNA in various settings, providing insights into the microbial world and aiding early outbreak detection.
In short:
- Researchers use environmental DNA (eDNA) to identify a diverse range of microbes in New York City's subway system, revealing a hidden world of bacterial life.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred advancements in eDNA research, which now allows for the rapid identification of pathogens in water, soil, and air.
- The potential of eDNA extends to developing early warning systems for disease outbreaks by monitoring high-risk environments where humans and animals interact.
Key quote:
"We like to say, we’re trying to get left of sneeze."
— Erik Karlsson, virologist at Institut Pasteur du Cambodge
Why this matters:
Understanding and monitoring eDNA can provide early alerts for pathogen outbreaks, contributing to faster responses and potentially saving lives. This research bridges the gap between environmental science and public health, offering new tools for combating infectious diseases.
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Ancient DNA describes a lush landscape in Greenland 2 million years ago
DNA from plants and animals that lived long ago carries records of how organisms responded to climate change in the past and could help scientists understand how they might adapt to current global warming.
Can we hack DNA in plants to help fight climate change?
Using CRISPR genome editing on a few common crops, a team of plant and soil scientists seeks to vastly increase and speed up carbon storage to help fight climate change.
Newsletter
Once the slick is gone: New tool helps scientists monitor chronic oil in Arctic wildlife
The loss of sea ice is making the Arctic more accessible than ever, thus increasing the probability of major oil spills as ship and tanker traffic multiplies.
15 things biodiversity protectors are watching out for in 2022
Every year, a group of scientists and conservation practitioners led by William Sutherland, professor of conservation biology at the University of Cambridge, creates and publishes a “horizon scan” of global trends with impacts for biodiversity.
abcnews.go.com
Preservation effort creates new threat to wild bison
Evidence mounts that wild North American bison are losing genetic diversity.
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