Discovery of New Protein Launches Revamped Fertility Treatment

According to this article, scientists at Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute have discovered a protein vital for fertilization located of the egg cell.  Previously the protein required for fertilization located on the sperm cell was discovered and named Izumo.  Researchers had been curious about the Izumo protein counter part.  This newly discovered egg cell protein is named Juno after the Roman Goddess of love and fertility.  These two proteins are vital for the fertilization of mammalian eggs that lead to a growing organism.  Any organism lacking these proteins, naturally males who lack Izumo and females who lack Juno, will be infertile.  The bond made between Juno and Izumo, though weak, is essential for the creation of life.  After fertilization it is known that the egg will no longer recognize any other sperm.  This may be related to the fact that the Juno protein disappears from the surface of the egg after it is fertilized.  Doctors can now test for the absence of this protein in order to determine the possible cause of infertility in women.  This new discovery will also help scientists research new and improved contraceptives as well as fertility treatment, changing the genetic world.

This research is such an important discovery in the medical field.  Doctors will now be able to improve fertility treatments in order to help women become pregnant.  Today, so many women are unable to conceive and it is a traumatic experience for both the woman and her husband.  It causes an enormous amount of stress, but all this stress could be alleviated by this discovery of the Juno protein.  Scientists can revamp fertility treatments and thus make so many women mothers.  On the other side of the spectrum new contraceptives could be created that would  affect the functioning of the Juno protein.  Overall I believe this discovery, and new research to come, will be extremely helpful and vital to today's society.