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Researchers at Texas A&M are investigating whether changes in sperm epigenetics — not just maternal factors — may be driving early pregnancy loss. Using cattle as a model, the team is studying how non-genetic modifications to sperm DNA affect embryo development. The goal: find biomarkers that could one day predict and prevent pregnancy loss in both humans and livestock.
When a pregnancy ends without explanation, the focus typically falls on the mother — but a Texas A&M researcher thinks it's time to look at the father's sperm more closely. Lacey Luense, Ph.D., is leading a study into how paternal epigenetics — non-genetic changes that affect how DNA is structured and which genes are switched on or off — may contribute to early pregnancy loss. The research is funded by a $1.65 million NIH grant and uses cattle as a model, since their early embryonic development closely mirrors that of humans.
The team will compare sperm from high- and low-fertility bulls, analyzing molecular and genomic markers to identify changes — particularly in histones, the proteins that DNA wraps around. Using IVF, time-lapse imaging, and CRISPR gene editing, they'll examine how sperm epigenome alterations affect embryo development and gene regulation in the critical pre-implantation window.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: With over 50% of human conceptions estimated not to result in a live birth, understanding the paternal contribution to pregnancy loss could open new diagnostic and therapeutic avenues — shifting the conversation beyond maternal health alone.
