The effects of a COVID-19 infection can sometimes persist for months or years after the initial symptoms have gone, but could some of the impact even be transferred to the next generation? Scientists studying male mice infected with SARS-CoV-2 discovered that it could alter their sperm, leading to behavioral changes in their offspring. It remains to be seen whether the same is true in humans.

“We already knew that when male mice were exposed to specific environmental and lifestyle factors, like poor diet before mating, it could change brain development and behaviour in offspring,” said lead researcher Professor Anthony Hannan from The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health in a statement.

“This is because the father’s experiences can alter the information carried in sperm, including specific RNA molecules, which transmit instructions for offspring development.”

Research had already shown how COVID-19 – which we know has effects way beyond the respiratory system – can alter sperm, potentially hanging around for up to 110 days. The team wanted to investigate whether COVID also had the potential to cause this type of RNA damage.