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Epigenetics and Male Infertility

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Male Infertility

Abstract

Epigenetics is the study of alterations in gene expression that do not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence. Epigenetic changes are natural and common and are influenced by age, environment, lifestyle, and illness. Epigenetic modifications underlie normal development and also pathologic diseases such as cancer, autoimmunity, and infertility. Abnormal sperm epigenetic profiles appear to correlate not only with semen analysis parameters but also with reproductive competence as defined by embryo quality and miscarriage rates. Sperm epigenetic profiles also change with paternal age and are influenced by paternal lifestyle choices. As sperm epigenetic patterns are heritable, there is the potential for both intergenerational transmission of disease to offspring as well as transgenerational implications for grandchildren.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Timothy G. Jenkins

  2. The Turek Clinics, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Paul J. Turek

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  1. Timothy G. Jenkins
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  2. Paul J. Turek
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. PUR Clinic, University of Central Florida (UCF), Clermont, FL, USA

    Sijo J. Parekattil

  2. ANDROFERT and State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil

    Sandro C. Esteves

  3. Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Ashok Agarwal

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Jenkins, T.G., Turek, P.J. (2020). Epigenetics and Male Infertility. In: Parekattil, S., Esteves, S., Agarwal, A. (eds) Male Infertility. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32300-4_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32300-4_10

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-32300-4

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