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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,...

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...

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Recessive male-determining genes

S S Wachtel, P Basrur, G C Koo

|September 1, 1978

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The polled gene (P) in goats causes hornlessness and can lead to intersex development in XX females. This suggests a recessive role for P in sex determination, potentially involving Y chromosome genes.

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Area of Science:

Genetics
Reproductive Biology
Animal Science

Background:

The autosomal dominant polled gene (P) in goats is known to cause hornlessness.
Homozygous P/P condition in chromosomal females (XX) results in the development of testes or ovotestes, indicating a role in sex determination.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of the polled gene (P) in sex determination in goats.
To understand the genetic basis of polled intersex conditions in goats.

Main Methods:

Analysis of the genetic basis of hornlessness and intersexuality in goats.
Examination of the expression of H-Y antigen in polled intersex goats.

Main Results:

The polled gene (P) acts as an autosomal recessive in its testis-determining properties.
Polled intersex goats (XX) are H-Y positive, suggesting a link to Y-chromosome-related genes.
Findings support the hypothesis of translocated testis-determining genes on the Y chromosome.

Conclusions:

The polled gene (P) or a closely linked gene plays a recessive role in goat sex determination.
Translocation of testis-determining H-Y genes from the Y chromosome may explain the recessive sex determination observed in polled intersex goats.