Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

X and Y Chromosomes

X and Y Chromosomes

Among mammals, the gender of an organism is determined by the sex chromosomes. Humans have two sex chromosomes, X and Y. Every human diploid cell has 22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes. A human female has two X chromosomes, while a male has one X chromosome and one Y chromosome.
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

The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness

The Y chromosome is a sex chromosome found in several vertebrates and mammals, including humans. In addition to 22 pairs of autosomes, the human males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. In these organisms, the presence or absence of the Y chromosome determines the development of male traits.
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,...

Genetic Material

Genetic Material

Within the human body, a complex and detailed system of trillions of cells works in unison to sustain life. Each cell houses a nucleus, which contains 46 chromosomes divided into 23 pairs. Chromosomes are highly coiled structures made of the genetic material DNA. These chromosomes are essential carriers of genetic information, with half inherited from the mother through her egg and the other half from the father's sperm, combining to create the unique genetic makeup of an individual.

The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes

The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes

In most organisms, sex is determined by the ratio of X and Y chromosomes. However, in some organisms, such as Drosophila and C.elegans, sex is determined by the ratio of the number of X chromosomes to the number of sets of autosomes. The Y chromosome in Drosophila is active but does not determine sex. It contains genes responsible for the production of sperms in adult flies.
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female Drosophila...

Genomics

Genomics

Genomics is the science of genomes: it is the study of all the genetic material of an organism. In humans, the genome consists of information carried in 23 pairs of chromosomes in the nucleus, as well as mitochondrial DNA. In genomics, both coding and non-coding DNA is sequenced and analyzed. Genomics allows a better understanding of all living things, their evolution, and their diversity. It has a myriad of uses: for example, to build phylogenetic trees, to improve productivity and...

Human Genetics

Human Genetics

Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Little Things Mean A Lot.

Bioethics·2025

Same author

The Ecological Genome Project and the Promises of Ecogenomics for Society: Realising a Shared Vision as One Health.

Bioethics·2025

Same author

Emerging and evolving values in the changing landscape of genomics.

Frontiers in genetics·2025

Same author

Health care and the ethical implications of treatment spaces.

Bioethics·2025

Same author

Commercialization and the Olympics: A step too far?

Bioethics·2024

Same author

The Human Genome Organisation (HUGO) and a vision for Ecogenomics: the Ecological Genome Project.

Human genomics·2023

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

Navigating MARRVEL, a Web-Based Tool that Integrates Human Genomics and Model Organism Genetics Information

Navigating MARRVEL, a Web-Based Tool that Integrates Human Genomics and Model Organism Genetics Information

Published on: August 15, 2019

Gender and the human genome.

Ruth Chadwick¹

¹D.Phil.

Mens Sana Monographs

|August 13, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Gender influences human genome research, clinical decisions, and societal implications. Feminist bioethics provides a framework to analyze these complex gender issues in genomics.

Keywords:

Biobanking Feminist bioethics Gender Gene therapy Genomics Human genome Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA Nutrigenetics Pharmacogenetics Preimplantation genetic diagnosis

More Related Videos

Targeted Next-generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Pipeline to Evaluate Genetic Determinants of Constitutional Disease

Targeted Next-generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Pipeline to Evaluate Genetic Determinants of Constitutional Disease

Published on: April 4, 2018

Screening for Functional Non-coding Genetic Variants Using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) and DNA-affinity Precipitation Assay (DAPA)

Screening for Functional Non-coding Genetic Variants Using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) and DNA-affinity Precipitation Assay (DAPA)

Published on: August 21, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 30, 2026

Navigating MARRVEL, a Web-Based Tool that Integrates Human Genomics and Model Organism Genetics Information

Navigating MARRVEL, a Web-Based Tool that Integrates Human Genomics and Model Organism Genetics Information

Published on: August 15, 2019

Targeted Next-generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Pipeline to Evaluate Genetic Determinants of Constitutional Disease

Targeted Next-generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Pipeline to Evaluate Genetic Determinants of Constitutional Disease

Published on: April 4, 2018

Screening for Functional Non-coding Genetic Variants Using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) and DNA-affinity Precipitation Assay (DAPA)

Screening for Functional Non-coding Genetic Variants Using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) and DNA-affinity Precipitation Assay (DAPA)

Published on: August 21, 2016

Area of Science:

Genomics
Bioethics
Gender Studies

Background:

Gender disparities exist in human genome research, affecting both basic science and clinical applications.
Attention is unevenly distributed between nuclear and mitochondrial genomes.
Societal implications of genomic research are often viewed through a gender lens.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the multifaceted gender issues within human genome research and its applications.
To examine the role of feminist bioethics in addressing these gender-related challenges.

Main Methods:

Literature review and critical analysis of existing research on gender and genomics.
Application of feminist bioethical principles to analyze case studies in reproductive and predictive genetic testing.
Discussion of societal implications from a gender perspective.

Main Results:

Identified significant gender dimensions in basic genomic research, clinical decision-making (reproductive and diagnostic testing), and societal impact.
Highlighted the need for greater attention to the mitochondrial genome alongside the nuclear genome.
Demonstrated the utility of feminist bioethics in dissecting complex gender-related ethical dilemmas in genomics.

Conclusions:

Gender is a critical, often overlooked, factor in understanding the human genome.
Feminist bioethics offers a valuable framework for navigating the ethical complexities of gender in genomic science and its applications.
Addressing gender issues is crucial for equitable and responsible advancement of genomic research and healthcare.