Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Slide Preparation Method to Preserve Three-dimensional Chromatin Architecture of Testicular Germ Cells
Published on: January 10, 2014
X chromosomes, retrogenes and their role in male reproduction
1Department of Animal Biology, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, 3800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. pwang@vet.upenn.edu
Abstract:
Retrogenes originate from their progenitor genes by retroposition. Several retrogenes reported in recent studies are autosomal, originating from X-linked progenitor genes, and have evolved a testis-specific expression pattern. During male meiosis, sex chromosomes are segregated into a so-called 'XY' body and are silenced transcriptionally. It has been widely hypothesized that the silencing of the X chromosome during male meiosis is the driving force behind the retroposition of X-linked genes to autosomes during evolution. With the advent of sequenced genomes of many species, many retrogenes can be identified and characterized. The testis-specific retrogenes might be associated with human male infertility. My goal here is to integrate recent findings, highlight controversies in the field and identify areas for further study.
More Related Videos
15:54Combined DNA-RNA Fluorescent In situ Hybridization (FISH) to Study X Chromosome Inactivation in Differentiated Female Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
Published on: June 14, 2014
05:31Whole-Mount Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization to Study Spermatogenesis in the Anopheles Mosquito
Published on: May 26, 2023
Related Concept Videos
X and Y Chromosomes
The germline cells such as egg and sperm cells carry only half the number of chromosomes, i.e., 22 autosomes and one sex chromosome. All eggs have an X chromosome, while sperm cells can carry an X or...
The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness
Evolution
Around 300 million years ago, the two sex chromosomes diverged from two identical autosomal chromosomes. Over time, the Y chromosome has lost most of its genes, shrinking in size. Today,...
The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female Drosophila...
X-linked Traits
X-linked Traits
Pedigree Analysis