Jennifer Marshall Graves, evolutionary geneticist stated that the Y chromosome is already at a disadvantage because it does not have a partner unlike the X chromsome. However, this does not mean that males will no longer exist along with the Y chromosome. According to Graves, a new sex determining system will evolve. For example, the spiny rat have XO chromosome for male and female instead of XX or XY. The same may occur in humans over the next 4 million years or sooner,
It is scary but very possible. Given that females have the advantage of having two X chromosomes it is more likely to have more women in the world rather than men. However, there are many other genes found in the heart, lungs, and other parts of the body that contribute to determining sex.
http://discovermagazine.com/2014/nov/13-y-not
http://www.nature.com/news/reprieve-for-men-y-chromosome-is-not-vanishing-1.15103
Wow I didn't know that the Y chromosome in mammals is disappearing. Although the new sex determining system would be interesting to learn, I think it will cause a lot of confusion in the future in determining gender.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting. I would've never imagined that the Y chromosome would be "endangered". I agree with the previous comment, it could cause a lot of confusion
ReplyDeleteI wonder what other qualities that males possess may become extinct with the Y chromosome. Would the phenotype that characterizes males in current society change, or would only the genetic material that produces this phenotype be altered? Very interesting article!
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