Facts For Prelims
Source: TH
Context: Researchers have discovered that the Y chromosome possesses genes linked to ageing and lifespan regulation.
- The Y chromosome, known as the “master of maleness,” determines the biological male sex and carries genes that play a role in sex determination.
Findings:
- Recent research has revealed that the Y chromosome possesses genes vital to biological functions, including those related to ageing and lifespan regulation.
- The study of species that have naturally lost their Y chromosome, such as rodents, provides insights into sex-chromosome turnover and the repurposing of other chromosomes as sex chromosomes.
- The genome sequences of Neanderthals indicate the replacement of the Y chromosome in modern humans, suggesting that the Y chromosome may eventually yield its role as the “master of maleness” to another chromosome.
About Chromosomes:
Chromosomes are thread-like structures found in the nucleus of cells that carry genetic information. Chromosomes come in pairs, with each pair containing one chromosome inherited from the mother and one from the father. Humans typically have 23 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 46 chromosomes in most cells (except for reproductive cells which have 23 chromosomes). Chromosomes play a crucial role in cell division and inheritance.
