Packed to perform: the effects of telomere traits and free radicals on sperm phenotypes, fertilization success, and offspring viability

这个项目将把端粒、自由基和精子生物学整合到一个连贯的研究项目中，研究自由基在侵蚀端粒和决定精子竞争的成功和神秘的女性选择中的作用；在野外的寿命和寿命健康；而且，对后代生存能力的跨代影响，特别是通过父亲端粒长度介导。具体来说，该项目研究了精子端粒长度在压力下是如何缩短的，以及这种表观遗传效应是如何从后代转移到儿子的，并可能调节后代在精子竞争中的成功和在隐性雌性选择中的吸引力。

This project will integrate telomeres, free radicals and sperm biology into a coherent research program on the roles of free radicals in eroding telomeres and dictating: success in sperm competition and cryptic female choice; longevity and life time fitness in the wild; and, transgenerational effects on offspring viability, in particular mediated via paternal telomere length. Specifically, the project researches how sperm telomere length in sires shorten under stress and how this epigenetic effect is transferred from sires to sons and potentially moderates also filial success in sperm competition and attractiveness in cryptic female choice.