The human Y chromosome

As some of you may have known, as well as others may have not known, the human Y chromosome is shrinking. It used to be as big as the X chromosome. No doubt, some genetic material were either lost already or been transfered to other chromosomes. Based on this rate of shrinkage, the Y chromosome will probably disappear in about 10 million years.Your thoughts on what really is happening here?

Well, since the human race has grown to have such a large population, and the same genes, whether good or bad, keep getting passed around (close to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium), I would say that the Y chromosome will stop shrinking, and that it will still be there in 10 million years if humans do not do anything unnatural to it in that time period. (Assuming humans don't go extinct or anything like that too.)I am not the most well-versed person in the world on this subject though, could you provide a source where I can read more?

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I am not the most well-versed person in the world on this subject though, could you provide a source where I can read more?

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Sorry, I'm not a big fan of internet searches. Call me old fashion, but I like to get my info from books. Any biology text book will tell you about the "telltale" Y chromosome.

Here is some of the latest research on the Y chromosome:Genome biology: Tales of the Y chromosome: Nature - Not FoundThe male-specific region of the human Y chromosome is a mosaic of discrete sequence classes: Nature - Not FoundAbundant gene conversion between arms of palindromes in human and ape Y chromosomes: Nature - Not FoundThe last paper indicates that there are mechanisms that keep the Y chromosome intact so it does not seem likely that it will disappear any time soon. Having said that there are a few mammals where the Y chromosome has disappeared notably Ellobius lutescens. But for that to happen in humans and most other mammals the genes necessary for sperm production located on the Y chromosome must first be transferred to another chromosome or functionally substituted by other genes.

Sex Chromosome systems are inherently unstable. The need to prevent recombination between the Y and the X (which once were homologous) leaves the Y vulnerable to degeneration by mutation. In a lineage, once a sex chromosome degenerates completely, another chromosome may be pressed into service.KC

as I recall you had some examples of the y chromosome being the female version in some species, yes?if you are same KCdgw from the netscape board ...? (hi?)

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we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
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Hi Abby,Yeah, it's me. To answer your question, the sex chromosome system in birds (and some insects, as I recall) is reversed from ours: Females are the heterogametic sex (WZ), while males are homogametic(ZZ).KC[This message has been edited by KCdgw, 04-07-2004][This message has been edited by KCdgw, 04-07-2004]

I can't see the Y chromosome disappearing until there are other causes for divergent sexual characteristics. For example, sex could be determined by hormonal cascades and feedbacks between mother and child. However, any system other than X/Y chromosomes must also keep a balance between the numbers of males and females, assuming that humans are still primarily serially monogamous.