📌UNIT -9 : CONSNAGUINEOUS MARRIAGES AND ITS IMPACT
The research by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, led by K. Thangaraj, investigates the genetic reasons behind male infertility, focusing particularly on the ‘Y’ chromosome’s role in sperm production.
Key points of the study include:
✅Genetic Factors in Male Infertility:
• The ‘Y’ chromosome is crucial for sperm development. Its deletions (missing parts) can cause severe testicular diseases and sperm production issues, leading to male infertility.
✅️️Study Methodology and Deletion Rates:
• The study examined 973 infertile men and 587 fertile men to find deletions in specific areas of the ‘Y’ chromosome called AZoospermia Factor (AZF) regions.
• It found that 29.4% of the infertile men had deletions in the AZF regions, indicating a high prevalence of genetic causes in male infertility.
✅️️Unique Deletion Combinations in Indian Population:
• The study noted unique patterns of these deletions in Indian men, attributed to endogamy (marrying within a specific community) and genetic isolation.
• It suggests that endogamy contributes to new genetic variations that can cause male infertility.
✅️️Implications for Assisted Reproduction:
• Sperm with ‘Y’ chromosome deletions often result in unsuccessful assisted reproduction treatments.
• Therefore, the study recommends screening infertile men for these deletions before undergoing assisted reproduction to increase success rates