A growing body of research is revealing associations between birth defects and a father’s age, alcohol use and environmental factors, say researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center. They say these defects result from epigenetic alterations that can potentially affect multiple generations. The study suggest both parents contribute to the health status of their offspring, showing how father's lifestyle, and age, can be reflected in molecules that control gene function. In this way, a father can affect not only his immediate offspring, but future generations as well. Among the studies reviewed are ones that find: Advanced age of a father is correlated with elevated rates of schizophrenia, autism, and birth defects in his children; A limited diet during a father’s pre-adolescence has been linked to reduced risk of cardiovascular death in his children and grandchildren; Paternal obesity is linked to enlarged fat cells, changes in metabolic regulation, diabetes, obesity and development of brain cancer; Psychosocial stress on the father is linked to defective behavioral traits in his offspring; and Paternal alcohol use leads to decreased newborn birth weight, marked reduction in overall brain size and impaired cognitive function. https://gumc.georgetown.edu/news/Review-Finds-Fathers-Age-Lifestyle-Associated-With-Birth-Defects Study: http://www.ajsc.us/files/ajsc0030217.pdf
Of course. After all, it is well-known that the French are a nation of congenital idiots. (Decartes, Pascal, Lagrange, Fourier, Fermat, Laplace, Hermite, Langevin, Lavoiser, Ampere, Carnot, Biot and Savart, etc, - and that is just the mathematicians and scientists that come to mind.) More American anti-alcohol puritanism. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
