A new study has revealed that sperm from older men may lack the intact mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) necessary for healthy offspring. Scientists from the University of Cambridge have found that mtDNA from older men’s sperm is more likely to be fragmented than mtDNA from younger men’s sperm. This could have an impact on the health of the resulting offspring, as mtDNA plays a vital role in energy production and other cellular processes. The study also showed that the fragments in older men’s sperm were larger than those in younger men’s sperm, suggesting that the fragmentation process may be progressing over time. This research highlights the need for further studies to understand the impact of age-related fragmentation of mtDNA on male fertility and the health of the resulting offspring.

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source: Phys.org