6533b873fe1ef96bd12d599e
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Sex chromosomes in vertebrates: XX/XY against ZZ/ZW.
Ulrich ZechnerH Hameistersubject
GeneticsEmbryologyAutosomeX ChromosomebiologyEndocrinology Diabetes and MetabolismHaplotypeChromosomeVertebrateKaryotypeY chromosomeEvolution MolecularCognitionEvolutionary biologybiology.animalY ChromosomeVertebratesAnimalsGeneX chromosomeDevelopmental Biologydescription
It was noted only recently that the mammalian X/Y sex chromosome system originated late in our therian ancestors. The question is, what makes the X/Y sex chromosome system so special that it has replaced the original Z/W sex chromosome system? Two classes of genes are overrepresented on the X chromosome: sex and reproduction genes and brain-related genes. The X chromosome has acquired bursts of young male-biased genes engaged in sex and reproduction which exemplifies the dynamics of sex chromosome evolution. Brain genes are old genes and display the most conserved transcriptome. The new therian X chromosome was formed by fusion of chromosome building blocks already bearing the highest density of brain genes in the ancestral vertebrate karyotype. These building blocks constitute an X chromosome haplotype that undergoes strong selection and benefits both sexes by oscillating between males and females. We believe that this strategy is superior to male-driven Z/W sex chromosome evolution.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-07-11 | Sexual development : genetics, molecular biology, evolution, endocrinology, embryology, and pathology of sex determination and differentiation |