Human Sperm Gene Is 600 Million Years Old, Scientists Discover

[JBeukema]

ScienceDaily (July 15, 2010) — Just as styles in sexy clothes or fashion change from year to year and culture to culture, "sexy" genes, or genes specific to sex, also change rapidly. But there is one sex-specific gene so vital, its function has remained unaltered throughout evolution and is found in almost all animals, according to new research from Northwestern



The gene, called Boule, is responsible for sperm production. Northwestern scientists also discovered in their research that Boule appears to be the only gene known to be exclusively required for sperm production from an insect to a mammal.

Human sperm gene is 600 million years old, scientists discover