Men, plz note: Smoking, drinking can affect your progeny

A new study has found that babies could inherit genetic damage from a father who puffs or drinks too much.

Science has long been clear that smoking or heavy alcohol consumption causes cancer. But, a new study has found that babies could inherit genetic damage from a father who puffs or drinks too much.

A team of international researchers has found that smoking or drinking alcohol can cause chemical changes in the semen in men and the alterations could be potentially inherited by their progenies and their future generations.

The researchers came to the conclusion after they analysed the effects of smoking and heavy drinking – both toxic in nature – on a group of rodents. They gave pregnant female mice daily injections of pesticide vinclozolin during the period when the sex of embryos is determined.

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Male offspring had abnormalities, including prostate and sperm development problems, and genetic changes that the researchers found were passed on through four generations when the males were mated with healthy females.

The researchers have also identified specific genes involved in the production of sperm that were permanently altered by the exposure to the pesticide.

“In addition to the spermatogenic and prostate abnormalities, trans-generational effects on numerous disease states were observed including tumour development and kidney disease,” The Daily Telegraph quoted Dr Matthew Anway of the University of Idaho as saying.

According to Dr Anway, the doses used in the experiment far exceeded the levels that humans could expect to be exposed to in the environment, but the study was designed to demonstrate how toxins lead to inheritable abnormalities.

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“Studies have shown significant associations between male toxic exposures and increased rates of infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth and childhood health problems. We need to open our eyes and look at the evidence.

“When you harm the male reproductive system you can see multi-generational harm transmitted through the male gamete (sperm). This research has human implications as it suggests an avenue of harm and a model of trans-generational effects,” said co-researcher Dr Cynthia Daniels of the Rutgers University.