Patent ID: 8709774
Filing Date: 2014-04-29
Classification: A61P,C07K,C12N,C12Y

Abstract:
1. A diagnostic method for determining the fertility status of a mammal, comprising determining the amount of a nucleic acid as set forth in SEQ ID NO. 3 or a sequence which hybridizes thereto under stringent conditions, present or absent in a test sample comprising a sperm cell obtained from the mammal; wherein said stringent conditions comprise incubation at from about 42° C. to about 68° C. in a solution comprising 6×SSC or 6×SSPE and one or more washing steps at 65° C.; and further wherein the amount of nucleic acid in the test sample is indicative of expression of a phospholipase C (PLC) ζ per sperm cell of less than 170 femtograms or more than 410 femtograms, which amount is indicative that the sperm cell will be unable to stimulate an oocyte to develop to a blastocyst stage and so that the mammal is at risk of infertility.