Contact: Bobbie Mixon
bmixon@nsf.gov
703-292-8485
National Science Foundation

Male Reproductive Function in Cordylochernes scorpioides is Affected by Tetracycline

Caption: In an article published in Nature's open access journal Scientific Reports, lead author and assistant biology professor Jeanne Zeh surmises that tetracycline may induce epigenetic changes in male reproductive tissues that may be passed to sons -- changes that do not alter the sequence of DNA but rather alter the way genes are expressed. Here, a Cordylochernes scorpioides births nymphs, the males of which may be negatively affected by tetracycline.

Credit: Nick Romanenko

Usage Restrictions: None

Related news release: Study is first to show transgenerational effect of antibiotics