Scientists have found a link between the bad habits of dads and the intelligence of their children and grandchildren
Fathers smoking causes decrease in intelligence in children and grandchildren. This conclusion was made by American scientists. On the basis of the Florida State University of Medicine in Tallahassee, they conducted an experiment that clearly demonstrated the validity of this conclusion.
Investigated the state of health of the offspring of male mice that "smoked" at the time of conception of offspring.
About the dangers of smoking for expectant mothers has long been known. But the paternal risk factor for nicotine addiction has not been studied before.
Nevertheless, as the researchers managed to find out, the bad habit of fathers causes a decrease in intelligence and hyperactivity syndrome not only in sons and daughters, but also in grandchildren.
All mice were divided into two experimental groups. In one entered the mouse, which was given to drink the most ordinary water. In the second group were male rodents who drank a nicotine solution. Mice were “smoked” for at least 12 weeks, which is comparable to smoking for 5-6 years in humans.
It should be noted that the "smoking" males themselves had no intellectual problems.
The offspring appearing from them showed very low marks of intellectual abilities. The mice could not overcome the simple maze, which their parents and the young "non-smoking" males overcame with ease.
Analyzes of seminal fluid in female habits showed significant changes in the genetic material of sperm, in particular, a group of genes responsible for the formation of the brain and its perception of dopamine were affected.
The grandchildren of "smoking" mice also showed certain deviations, but they were less pronounced. And only by the third generation, if no one of the males ever "smoked" in the genus, quite normal mice were born.
The research results are published in the journal PLoS Biology.
Researchers believe that their discovery is of public importance and will be another very weighty argument for quitting smoking.
