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For a long time, biologists have predicted that the Y chromosome—the DNA that makes men men—was gradually dying out, and that it would eventually lead to the extiniction of the male of the species. Fortunately, a team of researchers has proven that isn’t the case.
It used to be, a long time ago, that the X and Y chromosomes were the same size and shape. Then, about 166 million years ago, a huge chunk of the Y chromosome was turned upside down and reinserted. Nobody quite knows why. Since, the Y chromosome has lost 781 of the 800 genes it originally shared with the X chromosome, all thanks to mutation. It’s this which led to speculation that it would eventually disappear.
But according to research from the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that’s not the case. A team of researchers has compared the human Y chromosome to that of the rhesus macaque — a primate that diverged from humans around 25 million years ago. The monkey’s Y chromosome contains just 20 genes, and 19 of them are identical to those of the human Y.
So, in 25 million years, only one gene has been lost from the human Y chromosome. The research appears in this week’s issue of Nature. Speaking to New Scientist, Jennifer Hughes, one of the researchers, said:
“We finally have empirical data that the Y chromosome has held steady over the last 25 million years. Most of the Y chromosome’s gene loss happened almost immediately after it stopped recombining with the X chromosome.”
In theory, the remaining 19 genes serve vital biological functions, so there’s little chance of them disappearing. That means that we can rest happy in the knowledge that the rest of Y chromosome is going nowhere fast. Good news, chaps. [Nature and New Scientist via Gawker; Image: The National Institute of Standards and Technology]
Title should be don’t worry women.
I would not mind less men in the world.
“Y chromosome has lost 781 of the 800 genes it originally shared with the X chromosome” women will no doubt claim that these genes are the ones that enable multitasking and being able to ask for directions. Men will counterclaim that they are the in fact the genes that control attraction to shoes and ability to talk for hours on the phone to someone you only saw yesterday.
I know it’s rather tongue in cheek but you do know that men have X chromosomes too, right? :p
yes I am aware, however these traits are only appear if you have 2 identical chromosomes.
Wasn’t all the talk of the Y chromosome dying out one of those urban myths that someone with no knowledge of evolution or biology in general made up, like that thing about gingers dying out?
The Y chromosome has survived several million years in mammals, it’s hardly just going to be phased out for no real reason. The SRY gene in the Y chromosome controls testicular development – how would future generations even exist without contributions of said developments? :p