Human testes may multiply mutations
The testes in humans may act as mutation multipliers that raise the odds of passing improved DNA to offspring but this mechanism can also backfire by increasing the frequency of certain diseases as ‘bad’ mutations are also inherited.
Natural selection may favor “germline” cells - the precursors to sperm - carrying ‘good’ mutations which can be passed from generation to generation much more quickly than molecular mutations which tend to be random and slower.
Why natural selection might favor sperm precursor cells carrying a disease mutation is not yet understood.
Penny
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POSTED IN: Genealogy and DNA, General Genetics and Health, Genetic Future, gene therapy
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2 opinions for Human testes may multiply mutations
ihealthcommons
Aug 30, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Very interesting news–In fact, it is a part of nature. Mutations encourage genetic variation and therefore give natural selection a chance. Certain “diseases” may actually be beneficial in certain environmental situations. i.e. obesity or slow metabolism may be beneficial in a resource starved environment
Penny
Aug 30, 2007 at 1:51 pm
I totally agree. Diabetes is one such disease in question. Those individuals who are predisposed to developing diabetes will probably end up surviving a famine compared to those of us who don’t have the ‘faulty’ genetic variants.
Penny
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