A recent study published in the American Journal of Stem Cells, discovered that a child’s development can also be impacted by a father’s age, alcohol consumption habits, weight diet and psychological stress, which can cause certain conditions or birth defects in offspring.
The study was conducted by a team from the Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington DC headed by Dr. Joanna Kitlinska, an associate professor in biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology.
Dr. Kitlinska pointed out that their study revealed they have identified a group of paternal factors that may influence the development of babies during conception, as the research team consolidated numerous studies that link the role of fathers and inheritable genetic alterations both I humans and animals.
One of the pronounced evidence found by the researchers was that older men are at risk of having children with birth defects, schizophrenia or autism.
Another landmark finding the team discovered suggests that a man’s alcohol habit is linked to low birth weight, decreased brain size and impaired cognitive function in offspring.
It further noted that an elevated psychological stress among fathers increase the risk of offspring having impaired behavioural traits.
A certain percentage of fathers who were obese or overweight were also linked with having obese children, characterized by enlarged fat cells, alterations in metabolic regulation and increased risks if diabetes and brain cancer.
“Our study shows the same thing to be true with fathers – his lifestyle, and how old he is, can be reflected in molecules that control gene function. In this way, a father can affect not only his immediate offspring, but future generations as well,” Dr, Kitlinska said.
These inherited conditions were believed to arise as a result of changes on gene expression and cellular response that are affected by these stimuli, which can be passed on to future generations and is called epigenetics.
Dr. Kitlinska added that their findings could help provide better awareness and understanding on the role of parents in the development of their offspring, as well as conditions that could bring about risks to health, as well as provide better recommendations and guidelines to improve lifestyle, health, environment and nutritional conditions for both father and mothers.
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