Inside Precision Medicine January 20, 2026
For decades, scientists have warned that advancing paternal age can affect the health of future children. Older fathers face higher risks of passing on traits linked to obesity, stillbirth, and neurodevelopmental conditions. Until now, most explanations focused almost entirely on DNA damage. A new study suggests that another layer of biology, long overlooked, may be just as important.
Researchers at the University of Utah Health have identified what they describe as a molecular “aging clock” hidden within sperm RNA. Their findings, published in The EMBO Journal, show that sperm RNA changes progressively with age in both mice and humans, following a conserved biological pattern that may help explain why paternal age matters.
“It’s like finding a molecular clock that ticks...
Today's Sponsors
Today's Sponsor