Researchers report in mice that a father's exposure to microplastics affected the next generation. Microplastics are tiny plastic particles smaller than 5 millimetres that come from broken consumer products and waste. In the experiment, father mice ate a regular diet while all offspring were given a high-fat diet to reveal metabolic effects.
Female offspring of exposed fathers were more likely to develop metabolic disorders and showed diabetic features. Male offspring did not develop diabetes but had a small decrease in fat mass. Scientists used a sequencing method called PANDORA-seq and found changes in the small RNA content of sperm. The study was published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
Difficult words
- microplastic — very small plastic particle, smaller than five millimetresmicroplastics
- offspring — children or young animals of parents
- metabolic — related to the body's chemical processes
- diabetic — having diabetes, with high blood sugar
- sperm — male reproductive cell in animals and humans
- expose — to have contact with something harmfulexposed
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Discussion questions
- Have you heard of microplastics before? Where might we find them?
- Why did the researchers give the offspring a high-fat diet?
- Do you think studies in mice can tell us about human health? Why or why not?
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