Researchers studying stem cells in fruit flies have discovered an “unexpected” link between a specific protein and infertility, which could have relevance for humans. The study, published in recent days in the international journal PLOS Genetics, examined how stem cells divide in the ovary of the fruit fly. The research found when a certain protein was removed from stem cells in the ovary, the production of eggs was interrupted. The findings could have wider relevance, given similarities between stem cells found in fruit flies and humans, such as their ability to repair and replace old or damaged cells. The findings of the study suggest that restoring this gene in defective stem cells could possibly improve fertility.

Source: The Irish Times May 21, 2021 16:50 UTC