What Chromosomes Do Male Have? Y Chromosome Gender Explained

The sex chromosomes determine the biological sex of an individual. Y chromosome is only present in males.

Y Chromosome Gender

Each parent contributes one chromosome to each of the 23 chromosomes that comprise the human genome (22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes). The X and Y chromosomes determine the biological sex of an individual, also referred to as the sex chromosomes. Females receive an X chromosome from the father, giving them a XX genotype, while boys acquire a Y chromosome, giving them an XY genotype (mothers exclusively pass on X chromosomes). Because the Y chromosome contains the genes required to override the biological default, female development, and trigger the development of the male reproductive system, its existence or absence is crucial.

Even though the Y chromosome's function in determining sex is obvious, research has demonstrated that it is rapidly deteriorating in evolutionary terms. The Y chromosome was giant and had the same number of genes as the X chromosome many generations ago. It now only has a small portion of its former size and fewer than 80 functioning genes. Over the years, this has generated discussions and worries about what will ultimately happen to the Y chromosome.

According to popular belief, the Y chromosome is no longer necessary and may disappear within the next 10 million years. Although the palindromic and repeat-rich structure of the Y chromosome's DNA sequence has made studying it difficult, recent genomic developments have yielded some unexpected findings, showing that the Y chromosome is here to stay.

The majority of X-chromosome genes only need one copy to function. Every X-linked gene in a female has two copies since she has two X chromosomes; consequently, one copy of each gene is involuntarily inactivated or turned off. Since there is only one expressed copy of the X chromosome in males, there is only one.

Regulating genes, however, are frequently dosage-dependent and haplo-insufficient, meaning that two copies of the gene are needed, and the existence of one can result in abnormalities or disease. Since males only have one X chromosome, the survival of this collection of regulatory genes on the Y chromosome is essential for giving the second copy. In females, these regulatory genes evade X-inactivation so that the copy on the second X chromosome is also expressed.

Overall, this indicates that the Y chromosome also contains significant genes essential for the health and survival of males, in addition to its function in sex determination and fertility.

ALSO READ: Gene-Edited Organ Transplant: Monkey Who Received Kidney From Pig With Added Human Genes Survived for Over 2 Years

What Chromosomes Do Males Have?

Males and females have similar chromosomes except for the Y chromosome in males, which determines their gender. Humans typically have 46 chromosomes, or 23 pairs, in each cell.

The appearance of twenty-two of these pairs, known as autosomes, is the same in both sexes. Males and females have different 23rd-pair sex chromosomes. Males have one X and one Y chromosome, while females have two copies of the X chromosome.

Genetic research is currently focused on identifying the genes present on each chromosome. The estimated number of genes varies because scientists employ several strategies to determine the number of genes on each chromosome.

There are between 70 and 200 genes that give instructions on how to make proteins on the Y chromosome. The genes on the Y chromosome, which is only found in males, are typically involved in developing and regulating the male sex. The SRY gene, which is in charge of a fetus' transformation into a man, controls sex. Other genes on the Y chromosome are crucial for men to have biological children (male fertility).

While many genes are specific to the Y chromosome, certain genes are found in pseudoautosomal regions on both chromosomes. As a result, these genes are present in two functioning copies in both men and women. The pseudoautosomal areas include several genes that are crucial for healthy development.