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Is it true that the Y chromosome in males is gradually disappearingIf it is true, then there will still be men in the world in the future?I am afraid that this issue will cause considerable discussion in today's environment.
However, today we will not talk about the position, do not look at whether it is correct or not, but from a scientific point of view, let you understand how the other chromosomes that determine are changing.
To understand why the Y chromosome disappears, we first need to understand how it was born. The X chromosome and the Y chromosome are the "decision-makers" of human sex, and it is their combined action that divides human beings into male and female.
Each person has 23 pairs of chromosomes, one of which is primarily responsible for determining whether a fertilized egg will develop into a boy or a girl. The pair for women is xx, while the pair for men is xy. That's why we say that males actually "take over" from females, because females provide the X chromosome, while males provide the X or Y chromosomes.
However, the Y chromosome is not present all the time. In the distant past, all mammals were xx, not xy. So, how did the Y chromosome appear?The story takes place one day, where an animal that was originally xx underwent a genetic mutation. A gene on one of its X chromosomes mutated, resulting in offspring becoming XY.
This key gene is called the SRY gene, and it determines the sex of an individual. Since then, the Y chromosome has embarked on its unique long journey, parting ways with the X chromosome, gradually becoming smaller and smaller, and the number of genes gradually decreasing.
Why is this peculiar change?Because the Y chromosome is a "lone ranger", it does not have another Y chromosome to partner with, so it cannot repair its damage through gene exchange like other chromosomes.
The Y chromosome can only make copies of its own genes on its own, but this also comes with risks, as errors can occur during the replication process, resulting in the loss or damage of genes. Therefore, the Y chromosome is like an old man, it grows older and shrinks as it lives.
And scientists have also found a terrible phenomenon, that is, Y contains less and less information, which indicates that it is degenerating, and the speed is still very fast, maybe one day this chromosome will disappear from the body of the newborn!
The disappearance of the Y chromosome may sound like a worrying prospect for men, as if there is a danger of male extinction in the future. However, in reality, sex determination does not depend entirely on the Y chromosome, and there are other factors and mechanisms that affect sex differentiation. Let's take a look at some examples.
First of all, we need to knowThe most critical gene on the Y chromosome is the SRY gene, which activates other genes and prompts the embryo to develop into male. However, sometimes the SRY gene mutates or migrates, causing it to lose function or appear on the X chromosome. This leads to some special cases, such as:
Individuals who have a Y chromosome but lack the SRY gene, who have a chromosomal type of XY but a female phenotype, are called Swell syndrome.
Individuals who do not have a Y chromosome but have the SRY gene, who have a chromosomal type of XX but a male phenotype, is called XX male syndrome.
These examples illustrate that the Y chromosome is not the only factor that determines male sex, and that the SRY gene can also play a role on other chromosomes. In addition, the SRY gene is not the only factor that determines the sex of a man, there are others, such as SOX9, which also affect whether the fertilized egg is male or female in the future. Interestingly, some animals, such as platypus, do not have a sry gene, but rather an AMH gene that determines sex.
In addition, the disappearance of the Y chromosome is not an overnight process, but a gradual process. Scientists estimate that a long time ago, Y contained more than 1,000 genetic information, but now there are only a few dozen.
If this continues, it may not be long before the Y chromosome in humans disappears completely. But that doesn't mean males are extinct, as some animals have evolved sex determination mechanisms that don't rely on the Y chromosome, such as the Amami hedgehore.
The Amami Thorn Rat, an endangered rodent found on the island of Amami Oshima, Japan, has an X chromosome for their sex, not a Y. So, how do they distinguish between genders?
In fact, there is a repeating DNA sequence on their third chromosome, which can enhance the expression of the SOX9 gene and promote the formation of **. Thus, it is the male that has a repetitive sequence and the female who does not have a repetitive sequence. This is a new way of determining sex independently of the Y chromosome.
The differentiation of males and females is a complex process involving a variety of factors and mechanisms. Even if this chromosome is missing, it does not mean that there will be only one sex in the world in the future, but it is a manifestation of human evolution. With the development of human beings and technology, it is also possible to evolve mechanisms similar to those of the hedgehog, or to protect or restore the Y chromosome through technologies such as gene editing.
The negative impact of apoptosis on men's health and longevity is most obvious. Scientists have found that as they get older, some male cells lose Y in the process of repeating **, which is medically known as Y chromosome deletion (LOY).
Men with a Y chromosome deletion may live a shorter life span and are more susceptible to age-related diseases, such as a more fragile heart, more likely to develop cancer, and may also have Alzheimer's disease.
Why does the degeneration of the Y chromosome threaten men's health?The reason is that the genes on the Y chromosome not only determine the sex of a man, but are also involved in other physiological functions, such as the immune system, metabolism, and blood circulation. When the Y chromosome is missing, these genes can be lost or damaged, leading to a series of problems in the male body
Although the Y chromosome is shrinking, there is hope that science, with the guidance of science, can find solutions to slow or stop this trend. Through scientific efforts, human beings do not have to worry about the crisis due to the problem of gender differentiation at the biological level, and they can still maintain a longer and healthier life.
Therefore, the gradual disappearance of the Y chromosome is not the end of the world, but a challenge that requires us to work together to explore the possibilities of technology to ensure a healthier quality of life for future humans.
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