The secret of sperm quality control revealed

Yale researchers have discovered sperm and other cells go through a sort of inspection process triggered by a key regulatory gene, p53, which orders the destruction of cells with damaged DNA. This ability has earned it the title of “guardian of the genome,” and oversees quality control in the production of sperm - and perhaps in many other cells as well. According to researchers, any damage to p53 has been implicated in many forms of cancer.

The research published online in the journal Current Biology opens up the potential of developing new forms of birth control and fertility treatment - and even new ways to combat many forms of cancer.