Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2025

High Efficiency Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells to Cardiomyocytes and Characterization by Flow Cytometry
Published on: September 23, 2014
Sex chromosome mechanisms in cardiac development and disease
Frank L Conlon1, Arthur P Arnold2
1Departments of Biology and Genetics, McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Abstract:
Many human diseases, including cardiovascular disease, show differences between men and women in pathology and treatment outcomes. In the case of cardiac disease, sex differences are exemplified by differences in the frequency of specific types of congenital and adult-onset heart disease. Clinical studies have suggested that gonadal hormones are a factor in sex bias. However, recent research has shown that gene and protein networks under non-hormonal control also account for cardiac sex differences. In this review, we describe the sex chromosome pathways that lead to sex differences in the development and function of the heart and highlight how these findings affect future care and treatment of cardiac disease.
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...
Sex-linked Disorders
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....
Dosage Compensation
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 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...
X-linked Traits

