Research 2006
Reproduction Tango
Alberto Civetta
Associate Professor, Biology
Alberto Civetta is preoccupied with reproduction. A Google search using his name displays the title of one of his research presentations: Sex, flies, and videotapes. On his website, three students vibrate one arm in an imitation of a male fruit fly mating dance.
Civetta, an Associate Professor in Biology at The University of Winnipeg, studies fruit flies, kitchen pests that hover around overripe fruit. He and his students are exploring male fertility and sperm genetics and decoding the DNA sequences of proteins that are crucial for that final hurdle in a sperm’s life—fertilization. Why do some sperm fertilize more eggs?
“If we want to really understand male fertility, we have to look at it as a male-female process,” says Civetta. “I’m from Argentina, so I know very well that it takes two to tango.” Fruit fly females store sperm from every mating. Until they die, stored sperm continually emerge from the storage vesicle to fertilize eggs. Research has revealed that some males fertilize more eggs than others, but instead of focusing only on sperm, Civetta turned to the female fly for a solution.
“Nobody’s actually looking at what happens inside a female,” says Civetta. By looking at sperm inside females under a microscope, Civetta and his students have found that some males’ sperm live longer than others, and that it varies by female.
Civetta joined The University of Winnipeg in 2000, returning to Canada from the United States where he pursued his post-doctoral research. “I knew I wanted to come back to Canada,” says Civetta. “Winnipeg has offered me great opportunities. I’m glad to be back.” He has expanded his research to include sperm and egg proteins and their role in fertility in mammals, including humans.
“This research is really pushing the envelope,” says Ed Byard, Biology Department Chair. “We’re building an area of strength around him.”
The department plans to develop expertise in analyzing genetic variation and evolutionary patterns in wildlife populations—expertise that will be valuable for studying the impacts of environmental and climate change.
For more information about research on reproduction, contact University of Winnipeg faculty member Alberto Civetta at a.civetta@uwinnipeg.ca