Author Interviews, Genetic Research, OBGYNE / 25.04.2025
HebrewU: Sex-Specific Effects of Maternal Mental Stress Produces Detectable Molecular Signature in Newborn
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Prof. Hermona Soreq
Professor of Molecular Neuroscience
The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences
Department of Biological Chemistry
The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram Jerusalem Israel and
Shani Vaknine, Ph.D. candidate
Brain and Behavioral Sciences
The Hebrew University
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: We’ve long known that maternal stress during pregnancy can affect her baby’s development, but the molecular mechanisms behind this remained unclear. In our study, we explored how psychosocial stress experienced by the mother in late pregnancy influences tiny molecular fragments in the newborn’s blood. These fragments, called transfer RNA fragments or tRFs, were considered for many years to be disposable, but have recently been shown to have important biological functions.
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