Vienna University researchers found that older fathers are more likely to have less attractive kids.
A previous study found that extra genetic mutations that build up in older men's genes can raise their children's risk of autism, schizophrenia and other diseases. Now, Vienna University researchers found that the consequences of extra genetic mutations build-up can also affect the physical appearance of their children, with older fathers being more likely to have less attractive kids.
"We found a significant negative effect between paternal age and people's facial attractiveness," Martin Fieder, an associate professor in anthropology at the University of Vienna told The Sunday Times, according to The Telegraph. "The effect is very visible. Someone born to a father of 22 is already 5 - 10 per cent more attractive than those with a 40-year-old father and the difference grows with the age gap."
For the study, a group of six men and six women were shown pictures of 4,018 men and 4,416 women, mostly aged 18-20. They were asked to rate the level of attractiveness of each individual in the picture. They found that the individuals with older fathers were rated less attractive than those with younger fathers.
The new study supports previous researches, which state that though a mother's age affects a child's health, parental age is far more important. Mothers are born with all their eggs while male sperms are constantly replicating. Each time a sperm replicates there is a chance for a mutation in the DNA to occur. Moreover, the numerous environmental toxins humans are exposed to daily also result in DNA mutation. Older men have more DNA mutations due to longer exposure to environmental toxins.
"Every 16 years the mutation rate doubles. Other researchers found 25 mutations per sperm in a 20-year-old, but at age 40 it is 65 mutations. By 56 it doubles again," said Fieder, according to Daily Mail. "The effect is very visible - someone born to a father of 22 is already 5 per cent-10 per cent more attractive than those with a 40-year-old father and the difference grows with the age gap."
This is not the first negative impact for older fathers that researchers have highlighted. Earlier last month, researchers at Indiana University and Karolinska Institute in Stockholm found that children born to older fathers are at higher risk of mental disorders such as autism. They found that a child born to a 45-year-old father was 3.5 times more likely to develop autism, 13 times more likely to have ADHD, two times more likely to have a psychotic disorder, 25 times more likely to have bipolar disorder and 2.5 times more likely to display suicidal behavior or a substance abuse problem.
In July last year, a study conducted on beetles revealed that older males make better fathers. The study found that older and mature burying beetle males that are unsure of future reproduction tend to invest more in both mating and caring for their young.
Another study in 2012 found that the children of older fathers often lived longer because they had longer telomeres - the protective caps at the end of chromosomes which prevent damage.
