Determinants of Imprinted Variation in Human Sperm: Methodological Advances and Clinical Insights
PhD defence by Jo Frøkjær Iversen
Assessment Committee
Professor Simon Rasmussen, NNF Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR), University of Copenhagen (Chairperson)
Professor Jens Fedder, Aarhus University
Dr Valérie Granjean, Mediterranean Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cote D'Azur
Supervisors
Professor Romain Emmanuel Barres
Associate Professor Tuomas Oskari Kilpeläinen
MD, PhD Niels Jørgensen
Department
Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research
Graduate Programme
Basic Metabolic Research
Place
The defence is conducted as a hybrid defence.
To attend the defence in person:
Building: Bygning 7, 15. sal Mærsk Tårnet, Room: Foredragssal 7.15.92,
Hovedindgang fra Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 København N
To attend the defence online:
Please follow the link to attend the defence online: https://ucph-ku.zoom.us/j/4489026272?pwd=vQf2nooxS
MeetingID, if relevant: [Plans.DefenceMeetingIDHybrid]
Password, if relevant: Not relevant
Email address to gain access to the thesis: jo.iversen@sund.ku.dk.
You will either receive a copy of the thesis or be informed where you can read a physical copy.
Recipients of copies of the thesis are not allowed to share or distribute it due to copyright compliance.
Short description of the thesis
How stable are epigenetic marks in human sperm?
Beyond the genetic information carried by DNA, the epigenome represents chemical modifications that help regulate how genes function. Some of these marks are particularly important for a process called genomic imprinting, which ensures that certain genes are expressed depending on whether they are inherited from the mother or father.
This PhD project investigates how reliably these marks can be measured and whether they are influenced by paternal age, body weight, or methods used to select sperm for fertility treatment. The findings reveal stable imprinting patterns across the investigated regions, contributing to our understanding of sperm epigenetics and reproductive health.