Reproduction
Study shows older fathers transmit more disease mutations through selfish sperm
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A new study reveals that older men pass on significantly more disease-causing genetic mutations to their children due to the rapid proliferation of mutant sperm stem cells. Researchers found that the proportion of mutated sperm rises sharply with age, from 1 in 50 for men in their early thirties to nearly 1 in 20 by age 70. This phenomenon, driven by 'selfish' mutations, heightens risks for severe disorders in offspring.
Genetic mismatch may have hindered Neanderthal-human hybrids
A new study suggests that interbreeding between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens created a genetic incompatibility that increased pregnancy failure risks in hybrid mothers, potentially contributing to Neanderthals' extinction. This mismatch involved differences in the PIEZO1 gene affecting oxygen transport in blood. The finding could explain the absence of Neanderthal mitochondrial DNA in modern humans.