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

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...

Dosage Compensation

Dosage Compensation

In animals, gender is determined by the number and type of sex chromosome. For example, human females have two X chromosomes, and males have one X and one Y chromosome, whereas C.elegans with one X chromosome is a male, and the one with two X chromosomes is a hermaphrodite.
In addition to sexual development, the X chromosome has genes involved in autosomal functions such as brain development and the immune system. Therefore, males and females with distinct numbers of X chromosomes will...

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....

Mate Choice

Mate Choice

Mate choice—the decision about whom to mate with—is a type of natural selection, since animals must reproduce to pass down their genes. Mate choice is also called intersexual selection because the behavior occurs between the sexes.

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...

Sex Linked Disorders

Sex Linked Disorders

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Automated DNA profile analysis.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2015

Same author

Forensic DNA on the internet.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2015

Same author

How long does it take a static speaking individual to contaminate the immediate environment?

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2015

Same author

Disaster victim identification.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2015

Same author

Mini-STRs.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2015

Same author

Nonhuman DNA.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2015

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Assessing Differences in Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila

Assessing Differences in Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila

Published on: August 22, 2013

Sex determination.

Eleanor A M Graham¹

¹Forensic Pathology Unit, University of Leicester, Robert Kilpatrick Building Leicester Royal Infirmary, LE2 7LX, Leicester, UK, eamg1@le.ac.uk.

Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology

|April 15, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Accurate DNA sex determination is crucial for forensics. Current methods using amelogenin gene (AMEL) can yield false female results due to Y-chromosome dropout, impacting investigations.

More Related Videos

Dissection of Larval Zebrafish Gonadal Tissue

Dissection of Larval Zebrafish Gonadal Tissue

Published on: April 26, 2017

Author Spotlight: Whole-Mount Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization to Study Spermatogenesis in the Anopheles Mosquito

Author Spotlight: Whole-Mount Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization to Study Spermatogenesis in the Anopheles Mosquito

Published on: May 26, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Assessing Differences in Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila

Assessing Differences in Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila

Published on: August 22, 2013

Dissection of Larval Zebrafish Gonadal Tissue

Dissection of Larval Zebrafish Gonadal Tissue

Published on: April 26, 2017

Author Spotlight: Whole-Mount Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization to Study Spermatogenesis in the Anopheles Mosquito

Author Spotlight: Whole-Mount Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization to Study Spermatogenesis in the Anopheles Mosquito

Published on: May 26, 2023

Area of Science:

Forensic Science
Molecular Biology
Genetics

Background:

DNA analysis is vital for identifying individuals in forensic and missing persons cases.
The amelogenin gene (AMEL) system is widely used for sex determination from biological samples.
Primer binding site mutations can cause Y-chromosome dropout, leading to inaccurate female sex designation.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current DNA-based sex determination methods.
To discuss the limitations of the amelogenin (AMEL) gene system.
To explore alternative approaches for accurate sex determination in forensic science.

Main Methods:

Review of current polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based sex determination techniques.
Analysis of amelogenin (AMEL) gene locus and its susceptibility to mutations.
Discussion of potential alternative genetic markers and methodologies for sex determination.

Main Results:

The amelogenin (AMEL) system is effective but prone to false-negative Y-chromosome amplification.
Mutations in primer binding sites are a primary cause of Y-chromosome dropout.
Erroneous sex determination can have severe consequences in forensic investigations.

Conclusions:

Current amelogenin (AMEL) based sex determination methods require careful validation.
Alternative molecular markers and improved PCR strategies are needed to enhance accuracy.
Robust sex determination techniques are essential for reliable forensic identification and intelligence gathering.