Stress in fathers may alter sperm and affect behaviour in offspring

Research shows male mice exposed to a mildly stressful event produced sperm richer in certain types of molecules called microRNAs

Stressed fathers may end up with changes to their sperm that could affect behaviour in their offspring, research in mice has shown.

Previous work by the team found that male mice who were exposed to a mildly stressful event, such as being restrained, produced sperm that was richer in certain types of molecules called microRNAs.