25 votes

Sperm may pass traits via RNA, influenced by the father's life

Posted by post_below
Tags: biology, genetics, dna, rna, evolution, reproduction, sperm, men, fathers, epigenetics, research, traits, diet, exercise, stress, nicotine, author.ivan amato, source.quanta magazine, long read
https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-dads-fitness-may-be-packaged-and-passed-down-in-sperm-rna-20251222/

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Title
How Dad's Fitness May Be Packaged and Passed Down in Sperm RNA | Quanta Magazine
Published
Dec 22 2025
Word count
3121 words

8 comments

  1. [2]
    post_below
    Link
    I've long thought that natural selection isn't a sufficient explanation and that epigenetics would be where we'd find more answers. But I'm not a researcher so I can only muse and wait. This may...

    I've long thought that natural selection isn't a sufficient explanation and that epigenetics would be where we'd find more answers. But I'm not a researcher so I can only muse and wait.

    This may be the beginning of breakthroughs that will give us a (more) complete picture of how organisms can evolve/adapt at a much faster rate than the traditional DNA model can explain.

    11 votes
    1. stu2b50
      Link Parent
      I mean even if this effect is real, it’s very subtle. Part of the reason natural selection is the dominant explanation is that there is little statistical evidence for heritability of non-genetic...

      I mean even if this effect is real, it’s very subtle. Part of the reason natural selection is the dominant explanation is that there is little statistical evidence for heritability of non-genetic traits.

      1 vote
  2. [3]
    FlappyFish
    Link
    Relevant XKCD

    Relevant XKCD

    9 votes
    1. macleod
      Link Parent
      Always thought that DNA is the foundation, the base, the general scaffolding and architectural plans. RNA is the building blocks, the materials, the engineering and actual construction. Design vs...

      Always thought that DNA is the foundation, the base, the general scaffolding and architectural plans. RNA is the building blocks, the materials, the engineering and actual construction. Design vs Production.

      2 votes
    2. post_below
      Link Parent
      Relevant XKCDs restore my faith in the internet

      Relevant XKCDs restore my faith in the internet

  3. [3]
    macleod
    Link
    Genetic or Environment? Binaries are always boring, so both. Just as we have figured out how to do genetic engineering in only the last decade, are there any major efforts into modifying...

    Genetic or Environment? Binaries are always boring, so both.

    Just as we have figured out how to do genetic engineering in only the last decade, are there any major efforts into modifying epigenetic traits? Could be a monumental discovery.

    4 votes
    1. [2]
      post_below
      Link Parent
      The nickname for drugs that target epigenetic expression is "epi-drugs". I think we've only scratched the surface in terms of what's possible there.

      The nickname for drugs that target epigenetic expression is "epi-drugs". I think we've only scratched the surface in terms of what's possible there.

      4 votes
      1. snake_case
        Link Parent
        I worked in a plant lab during college and they do the same thing with plants, there’s optimum environments you can put the plants in which will change how the fruit they produce looks, tastes,...

        I worked in a plant lab during college and they do the same thing with plants, there’s optimum environments you can put the plants in which will change how the fruit they produce looks, tastes, how nutritious it is, etc and these changes can be measured genetically so you can know the kinda fruit you’ll get from a slow growing plant before it actually fruits.

        Cool shit

        4 votes