Potentially creating a mutant with every puff: chain-smoking mice were studied and found to be creating mutated DNA in their sperm. Yikes. Of course, when I think about mouse DNA, I always make the automatic leap to people DNA (or not), but perhaps these people who run studies know what they're talking about.

And it sounds pretty serious: "If inherited, these mutations persist as irreversible changes in the genetic composition of offspring." Of course, moms have been blamed for years about things like this, so it's only fair that dads take their share, but this is awfully guilt-inducing, don't you think?

At any rate, if you're a smoker and want to be a daddy, you might want to think about your choices. It won't be long anyway before your kid wants a pack of Barbie Camels; why hasten things by providing a role model?