Women's Health Weekly
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University of Nottingham
Mothers pass on disease clues to offspring
February 5th, 2009
When there is a threat of disease during pregnancy, mothers produce less aggressive sons with more efficient immune systems, researchers at The University of Nottingham have discovered. The study provides the first evidence for a transgenerational effect on immune response based on environmental cues — with maternal perception of disease risk in the immediate environment potentially determining offspring disease resistance and social dominance. The results are published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal. Pregnant female mice were housed next to males infected with Babesia microti, which is...
Source: Women's Health Weekly (2009-02-05)
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