Sunday 18 August 2019
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Scientists develop simple way to manipulate sex of offspring

Scientists develop simple way to manipulate sex of offspring

4 days ago

Scientists develop simple way to manipulate sex of offspring

4 days ago

A simpler way to manipulate the sex of offspring has been developed by scientists.

The technique features a “novel” way to separate X from Y chromosome bearing sperm.

Distinctive gene activity by the two sex chromosomes allows X-bearing sperm to be slowed down.

Most cells from male mammals contain both an X and a Y chromosome, but during sperm development (spermatogenesis) they are segregated into different cells.


Researchers say that unlike the Y chromosome, which carries very few genes, the X chromosome carries many, some of which remain active in the maturing sperm.





Scientists at Hiroshima University in Japan found 492 genes are active in only X-bearing sperm.

Eighteen of the X chromosome genes encoded receptors, and were good candidates for manipulating the sperm because of their response to stimuli.

Researchers focused on a pair of receptors and found that a chemical that bound to them slowed sperm motility without impairing either fertilisation ability or viability.


Mouse sperm treated with the chemical, followed by in vitro fertilisation with the fastest swimmers, led to litters that were 90% male.


Scientists say that while other procedures that can be used to separate X and Y sperm, they are cumbersome, expensive, and risk damaging the DNA of the sperm.

Professor Allan Pacey, Professor of Andrology at the University of Sheffield, said: “There have been many attempts over the years to develop techniques to separate X from Y chromosome bearing sperm and thereby influence the sex of farm animals or humans born.

“We also know that nature is pretty ingenious in how it can influence the sex of offspring born in response to specific environmental or social conditions.  However, to date, the mechanism by which it does this is poorly understood.


Dr Peter Ellis, lecturer in Molecular Biology and Reproduction, University of Kent School of Biosciences, added: “This study makes the startling claim that there are cell surface markers on X- and Y-bearing sperm cells that ‘label’ these and selectively affect their function.



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