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REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Sperm size evolution

Nature Ecology & Evolution volume 5, pages 1064–1065 (2021)Cite this article

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Sperm length unexpectedly varies more than 3,000-fold across species, posing new questions for anisogamy theory and understanding the different forces shaping evolution of the male gamete.

Sperm have one primary job: to carry a male’s DNA to unite with a conspecific egg, form a zygote and enable sexual reproduction. Given this uniform task, why are spermatozoa among the most structurally diverse cell types1? Writing in Nature Ecology & Evolution, Kahrl et al.2 demonstrate an astounding size variation among sperm, while providing some fundamental answers to why sperm show such wide variation and building an important foundation for future research into the evolution of sperm form and function.

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Fig. 1: Evolution of anisogamy.

References

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  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK

    Matthew J. G. Gage

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  1. Matthew J. G. Gage
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Correspondence to Matthew J. G. Gage.

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The author declares no competing interests.

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Gage, M.J.G. Sperm size evolution. Nat Ecol Evol 5, 1064–1065 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01501-4

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