Michael Golding's team will test whether paternal alcohol exposure alters molecular signals in sperm without changing DNA, disrupting offspring mitochondria and raising risks of developmental disorders, chronic disease and accelerated aging.
The new phase also examines whether a father's drinking interacts with a mother's alcohol use to worsen fetal growth restriction, birth defects and longer-term health outcomes in children.
Texas A&M says the work could eventually help identify risks earlier and guide interventions for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, while offering a model for studying other stressors such as microplastics and industrial chemicals.
How is the 'memory' of a father's drinking passed on to his children without altering their DNA?
If alcohol can rewrite a child's future, are common chemicals and plastics doing the same?
Texas A&M Awarded $2.9 Million to Uncover How Paternal Alcohol and Environmental Exposures Impact Child Health
Overview
Texas A&M University has received a $2.9 million grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to support Dr. Michael Golding and his team in studying how a father's alcohol use before conception can impact the health and development of his children. This research marks a shift from focusing only on mothers to understanding both parents' roles in child health. The team is exploring how paternal alcohol exposure can change biological information passed to offspring without altering DNA, contributing to conditions like fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. This work aims to improve prevention and support for affected families.