Data from: Effects of male telomeres on probability of paternity in sand lizards

Standardized swim-up trials are used in IVF clinics to select particularly motile spermatozoa in order to increase the probability of a successful fertilization. Such trials demonstrate that sperm with longer telomeres have higher motility and lower levels of DNA damage. Regardless of whether sperm motility, and successful swim-up to fertilization sites, is a direct or correlational effect of telomere length or DNA damage, covariation between telomere length and sperm performance predicts a relationship between telomere length and probability of paternity in sperm competition, a prediction that for ethical reasons cannot be tested on humans. Here we test this prediction in sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) using experimental data from twice-mated females in a laboratory population, and telomere length in blood from the participating lizards. Female identity influenced paternity (while the mechanism was not identified), while relatively longer male telomeres predicted higher probability of paternity. We discuss potential mechanisms underpinning this result.

体外受精（In Vitro Fertilization, IVF）临床中常采用标准化上游精子选择试验筛选活力优异的精子，以提升受精成功的概率。此类试验证实，端粒（telomeres）更长的精子具有更高的活力，且DNA损伤水平更低。无论精子活力、成功游至受精位点的能力，是端粒长度或DNA损伤的直接效应还是相关关联效应，端粒长度与精子功能之间的协变关系均预示：在精子竞争场景下，端粒长度与雄性父权获得概率存在相关性。但受伦理约束，该假设无法在人类群体中开展验证。本研究以实验室种群内经两次交配的雌性沙蜥（Lacerta agilis）的实验数据，以及受试沙蜥血液样本的端粒长度为研究材料，对该假设进行检验。结果显示，尽管具体调控机制尚未明确，但雌性个体身份对子代父权存在显著影响；而雄性端粒更长，则可显著预测其获得更高的父权概率。本研究还对该结果背后的潜在作用机制进行了探讨。