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Why do some men not produce sperm?

Researchers discovered that a single mutation in a key synaptonemal complex protein can cause infertility in mice and is likely to have the same effect in humans. This finding may lead to new technologies for treating male infertility by pinpointing the exact location of the defect.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 20, 2023

No cap removal, no fertilization

Researchers from Osaka University have identified a protein called FER1L5 that is crucial for the acrosome reaction, allowing sperm to fertilize eggs. The study found that mice lacking FER1L5 were unable to undergo the acrosome reaction, highlighting the importance of this protein in male fertility.

SourceOsaka University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 25, 2023

Novel hypotheses that answer key questions about the evolution of sexual reproduction

Researchers at Hokkaido University propose two novel hypotheses to address the 'two-fold cost of sex' in sexual reproduction. The first hypothesis suggests that meiosis eliminates harmful mutations through a process known as the 'seesaw effect.' The second hypothesis proposes that anisogamy evolved through 'inflated isogamy,' where lar...

SourceHokkaido University·JournalJournal of Ethology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 18, 2022

Scientists shed new light on pollen tube growth in plants

Researchers discovered that the KATANIN enzyme plays a crucial role in moderating mechanical properties of papilla cell walls, allowing correct pollen tube orientation and successful fertilization. This finding suggests KATANIN's potential role in the success of flowering plants on Earth.

SourceeLife·DateSep 1, 2020

Scientists make stunning inner space observations

Researchers have made a groundbreaking observation of cellular architecture using high-powered microscopes, revealing the structure of microtubules during gamete formation. The findings could impact the treatment of diseases caused by misregulation of microtubule structures, including Down syndrome and cancer.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMay 1, 2012