Project Summary (1995-2000)

This project is developing biomarkers to evaluate human sperm for genetic damage to provide: a) a direct means for characterizing the heritable contribution of paternally mediated effects; and b) an efficient prospective approach for identifying environmental and host factors that increase the risk of fathering an abnormal pregnancy or child with a defect. In recent years it has become increasingly apparent that paternal exposures to chemicals might cause genetic damage in sperm which leads to detrimental effects in the offspring. This area, known as male-mediated genotoxicity, has been neglected but is obviously very important.