In a study that signals potential reproductive and health complications in humans, now and for future generations, researchers from McGill University, the University of Pretoria, Université Laval, Aarhus University, and the University of Copenhagen, have concluded that fathers exposed to environmental toxins, notably DDT, may produce sperm with health consequences for their children.

The decade-long research project examined the impact of DDT on the sperm epigenome of South African Vhavenda and Greenlandic Inuit men, some of whom live in Canada’s North.

Classified as: Fertility, DDT, Sarah Kimmins, Ariane Lismer
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Published on: 6 Feb 2024

Led by Dr. Sarah Kimmins, Department of Animal Science and Pharmacology and Therapeutics, HISTurn is one of three Prelaunch Phase projects awarded support through the University’s Innovation Fund. This fertility diagnostic technology fills a health needs gap by accurately diagnosing infertility in men and providing clinicians with actionable information to allow them to streamline fertility treatment pathways. The team aims to make the clinical journey for couples inclusive of men and to increase the births of healthy children.

Classified as: Sarah Kimmins
Published on: 2 Feb 2022

It has long been understood that a parent’s DNA is the principal determinant of health and disease in offspring. Yet inheritance via DNA is only part of the story; a father’s lifestyle such as diet, being overweight and stress levels have been linked to health consequences for his offspring. This occurs through the epigenome - heritable biochemical marks associated with the DNA and proteins that bind it. But how the information is transmitted at fertilization along with the exact mechanisms and molecules in sperm that are involved in this process has been unclear until now.

Classified as: epigenetics, Sarah Kimmins, Sperm
Published on: 16 Mar 2021

 

McGill Centre for Research in Reproduction  and Development (CRRD) Associate Director Dr. Sarah Kimmins (Animal Science Department) is recipient of the 2016 SSR Young Investigator Award.

This award recognizes an active Regular Member of the Society for outstanding research completed and published within 12 years after receiving the Ph.D. or other equivalent professional degree.

Classified as: Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, animal science, Sarah Kimmins
Published on: 16 Feb 2016

Discovery of how environmental memories may be transmitted from a man to his grandchildren

Classified as: news, Research, McGill University, CIHR, DNA, epigenetics, health, Genome Québec, Sarah Kimmins, Dept. of Animal Science, fathers, grandfathers, histones, Reseau de Reproduction Quebecois, Fonds de recherche Nature et technologies, lifestyle
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Published on: 8 Oct 2015
Laval and McGill researchers team up with Health Canada and international researchers from Africa, Italy, Copenhagen and Greenland to investigate the impact of environmental exposures on the hertibale information coded in the fathers sperm and the health of offspring.  The research team includes Professor Sarah Kimmins of the Department of Animal Science and is funded for $1.5 million by the Institute of Aboriginal Health, and the Institute of Gender and Health.
Classified as: news, epigenetics, Kimmins, animal science, department of animal science, Sarah Kimmins
Published on: 22 Apr 2015
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