Genetic clock ticks for men

By Guest Column Les Sheffield —— Bio and Archives June 12, 2008

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Les Sheffield, The Herald Sun MOST men would have been surprised to read that overseas researchers had found the death rate of young adults was higher if they had been born to older fathers.

This is no surprise to me. It has been scientifically established that genetic changes occur more often in the sperm of older fathers than younger fathers. As men age there is a higher chance of changes in the genes in the sperm. These changes can cause genetic conditions in their offspring, such as birth defects, autism and schizophrenia. Their partners can also have an increased risk of miscarriages. The presumed reason for the increase occurrence of all of these conditions is that they are all due to a new genetic change in the sperm of the older father. Genetic changes are occurring all the time. Sometimes they have a beneficial effect, such as making the individual stronger, taller or smarter. This is part of the concept of "survival of the fittest". More...