Feb. 25, 2009 -- In an effort to find the best of the worst, scientists in the U.K. have pioneered a way to examine individual sperm, in a process known as Raman spectroscopy. The technology is geared to find sperm with healthy, intact DNA to ensure more successful in vitro fertilization. "It's interesting research because is shows that there are finer distinctions for sperm other than dead or alive," said Michael Morris, a Raman spectroscopy expert at the University of Michigan who was not involved in the research. During an average ejaculation somewhere between 200 and 500 million sperm are released. They twist their thread-like tails, known as flagella, to propel them forward in search of an egg to fertilize. Related Content:
For infertile men, an average ejaculation might only contain only a handful of ill-formed and malfunctioning sperm, which dramatically reduces the likelihood that any of them will survive the harsh environment of a woman's reproductive tract to fuse with an egg. For men with either low sperm counts or abnormal sperm, in vitro fertilization offers a way around these problem. Scientists use light microscopes to find a sperm cell, any sperm cell, and then inject it directly into an egg to fertilize it. The problem with this, says Alistair Elfick, a professor at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom who developed the technique using Raman spectroscopy, is that broken sperm often means broken DNA. DNA, not the sperm cell itself, is what is really important for a developing embryo. "A sperm cell is pretty stripped down," said Elfick. "The DNA has no explicit role in delivering itself, it's just the payload." If a light microscope kicks a sperm cell's metaphorical tires, Raman spectroscopy pops the trunk to directly examine the DNA payload. In Raman spectroscopy scientists shine a beam of light on the 23 chromosomes encased in the head of the sperm. Damaged DNA refracts light differently than intact DNA, so by examining the resulting light scientists can determine which DNA is the most likely to lead to a healthy human embryo. That's the theory at least. Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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