When it comes to reproductive health, it’s no secret that a pregnant mother’s choices and environment can severely impact her child’s epigenetics and health—especially mothers suffering from PTSD. But it turns out fathers who have suffered significant stress early on in their life may also epigenetically impact the physical and mental health of their offspring. It was previously thought that fathers only passed DNA to the mother’s egg during fertilization, but it was recently discovered that sperm also contributes miRNA, which could epigenetically impact the next generation.
Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression that leave the underlying DNA sequence unchanged. These adjustments can occur due to environmental factors, diet, and stress and can have a lasting impression on an individual and their future generations.
A recent study out of Tufts University demonstrates that early trauma in male mice leads to epigenetic changes in sperm miRNA, resulting in poor mental and physical health of their offspring, and the same may be said for humans.
[For more on this story by Tim Barry, go to https://www.whatisepigenetics....ons-sperm-micrornas/]
Comments (1)