The young sperm gambit

Thermodynamic and oxidative damage to the condensed nuclear DNA of spermatozoa may result in age-related deterioration that results in zygote death. By definition, any such spermatozoan-age effects are direct (i.e. nonheritable) and, if they occur, females may be selected to avoid such costs. This paper examines the potential of spermatozoan-age effects to provide alternative explanations for several reproductive phenomena.