New Procedure Sifts Winners From Losers in a Sample of Sperm
Human Sperm and Egg Cells Using a simple test could boost the chance of pregnancy by 20 to 30 percent So much for the idea that the faster swimmer wins. Speed is no longer enough to cut it when it comes to sperm. From here on out, the little guys may be subjected to quality control as well. Scientists have developed a simple test that separates top-notch sperm from sperm with damaged DNA, reports LiveScience. In a study appearing in the June/July issue of the Journal of Andrology, a group at Yale Medical School found that sperm screened with their test boosts the chances of pregnancy by 20 to 30 percent. And pregnancies that result from screened sperm may have a lower rate of genetic disorders and miscarriage. To develop the test, the scientists let sperm loose near hyaluronic acid, a chemical found in the membrane of human eggs. The sperm...