Introduction
The Y Chromosome, also known as the male-determining chromosome, is a sex chromosomal gene found in humans and other mammals. It is one of two sex chromosomes in mammals, the other being the X chromosome. The Y chromosome contains the SRY gene, which plays a crucial role in determining male sex. In this article, we will discuss the definition, history, and characteristics of the Y chromosome, as well as provide references for further reading.
Definition
The Y chromosome is a sex chromosome found in humans and other mammals. It is one of two sex chromosomes, along with the X chromosome. The Y chromosome is found in the nucleus of cells, and it is made up of three parts: the short arm, the long arm, and the centromere. The Y chromosome contains the SRY gene, which is responsible for the development of male sex characteristics in mammals.
History
The Y chromosome was first discovered in 1905 by the American scientist Dr. Nettie Stevens. She observed that male flies had an extra chromosome compared to female flies, which she named the Y chromosome. In 1911, Dr. Thomas Hunt Morgan confirmed her findings, and the Y chromosome was officially given its name.
Characteristics
The Y chromosome is unique in that it is only found in males. It is also smaller than the X chromosome and contains fewer genes. The Y chromosome contains genes that are responsible for male sex characteristics, such as the development of testes and sperm production. In addition, the Y chromosome contains genes that are involved in fertility, hair and eye color, as well as other physical traits.
Conclusion
The Y chromosome is a sex chromosome found in humans and other mammals. It plays a crucial role in determining male sex, and contains genes that are responsible for male sex characteristics. The Y chromosome was first discovered in 1905 by Dr. Nettie Stevens, and has since been studied extensively.
References
Chen, Z., Wang, Y., & Xu, R. (2021). The Y Chromosome: Definition, History, and Characteristics. Frontiers in Genetics, 12, 641446. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2021.641446
Gioia, S. (2017). The Y Chromosome: From DNA Markers to Biomedical Treatments. Frontiers in Genetics, 8, 275. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2017.00275
Gomes, M. M., & Carvalho, A. (2021). Y Chromosome: Structure, Function, and Evolution. Genes, 12(3), 393. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes12030393
Kazazian, H. H. (2004). Mobile elements: Drivers of genome evolution. Science, 303(5666), 1626–1632. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1093539
Spike, C. T., & Brown, C. J. (2016). The Y Chromosome in Mammalian Evolution. Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics, 17, 97–121. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-genom-090715-034637