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Related Concept Videos

The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness02:19

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,...
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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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Male infertility affects millions of couples worldwide, arising from various factors that impact different stages of the reproductive process. An endocrine imbalance resulting from conditions like hypogonadism, Klinefelter syndrome, or pituitary disorders can disrupt hormone levels and reduce sperm production. Testicular defects, such as tumors, cryptorchidism, atrophic testes, abnormal sperm morphology, and low sperm count or motility, may arise due to genetic factors, structural...
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Measuring and Altering Mating Drive in Male Drosophila melanogaster
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An ancient mystery: missing males.

Ann Gibbons

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |June 25, 2026
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Fossil proteins reveal that 20 individuals of an extinct human species discovered in a South African cave were all female. This finding offers new insights into the paleoanthropology of early human relatives.

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    Area of Science:

    • Paleoanthropology
    • Paleogenetics
    • Bioarchaeology

    Background:

    • Ancient hominin fossils provide crucial data on human evolution.
    • Sex determination in fossil remains is essential for understanding social structures and population dynamics.
    • Proteomic analysis offers a novel approach to identifying biological sex in ancient specimens.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To determine the sex of 20 fossil individuals from an extinct human species using proteomic analysis.
    • To investigate the implications of the identified sex composition for the paleoecology and social behavior of this ancient hominin group.

    Main Methods:

    • Protein extraction and sequencing from fossilized bone samples.
    • Mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis.
    • Bioinformatic analysis to identify sex-specific proteins.

    Main Results:

    • Proteomic analysis confirmed the presence of female-specific proteins in all 20 fossil individuals.
    • The findings indicate that the cave assemblage exclusively comprises female members of this extinct human species.

    Conclusions:

    • The exclusive female composition of this fossil assemblage challenges previous interpretations of hominin site formation and behavior.
    • Further research is needed to understand the taphonomic and behavioral factors leading to this unique fossil assemblage.