By Victoria Bell For Mailonline
Published: 12:05 BST, 12 April 2019 | Updated: 13:21 BST, 12 April 2019
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Being in the presence of rival males makes the sperm faster, more competitive and allows it to function better, according to a study on zebrafish.
Researchers examined how having two males in a tank with one female would affect their sperm.
They found that when exposed to high competition, the male spermatozoa was superior to when they are alone with the females, yet showed higher rates of DNA damage.
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The presence of a rival male makes the function and quality of sperm better, according to a study on zebrafish. Researchers examined the effect having two males in a tank with one female would have on their sperm
The study, led by the University of Alicante and the University of Upsala in Sweden, compared two males and one female in a tank for two weeks with one male paired with two females in a tank for two weeks.
Through the application of geometric morphometry, an analysis technique defined as the union between biology and geometry, they isolated variations in the sperm shape and size.
They also analysed their relationship with other cell signalling mechanisms.
The results found that the two male zebrafish in the presence of the rival male were able to produce more efficient sperm while the single male's was less competent.
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