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Related Concept Videos

The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness02:19

The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness

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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....
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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...
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The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes02:45

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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.  
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Dosage Compensation02:50

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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.
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Meiosis vs. Mitosis

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Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
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X-Inactivation01:58

X-Inactivation

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The human X chromosome contains over ten times the number of genes as in the Y chromosome. Since males have only one X chromosome, and females have two, one might expect females to produce twice as many of the proteins, with undesirable results.
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Meiotic Executioner Genes Protect the Y from Extinction.

Paul D Waters1, Aurora Ruiz-Herrera2

  • 1School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.

Trends in Genetics : TIG
|August 11, 2020
PubMed
Summary

The Y chromosome persists in mammals due to genes acting as "executioners" during meiosis. These genes require silencing to prevent germ cell death, explaining the Y chromosome's evolutionary endurance.

Keywords:
Y chromosome lossZfyexecutioner genesmeiosismeiotic sex chromosome inactivationsex chromosome evolution

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Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • The Y chromosome's persistence despite its small size and apparent degradation is a long-standing evolutionary puzzle.
  • Previous theories suggested its demise if sex-determining functions were lost.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a novel mechanistic explanation for the evolutionary perseverance of the Y chromosome.
  • To introduce the "persistent Y hypothesis".

Main Methods:

  • The study focuses on the mechanistic role of Y-linked genes in meiotic surveillance pathways.
  • It examines the necessity of silencing these genes during the meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI) window.

Main Results:

  • Y chromosome genes act as critical regulators within meiotic surveillance pathways.
  • Failure to silence these genes during MSCI leads to germ cell death.
  • Heritable transposition events to the X chromosome, where silencing is maintained, are rare.

Conclusions:

  • The Y chromosome persists because its genes are essential "executioners" for successful meiosis.
  • The requirement for MSCI imposes a strong evolutionary constraint, favoring the Y chromosome's continued existence.