Meiotic Executioner Genes Protect the Y from Extinction.
Trends Genet
; 36(10): 728-738, 2020 10.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32773168
ABSTRACT
The Y has been described as a wimpy degraded relic of the X, with imminent demise should it lose sex-determining function. Why then has it persisted in almost all mammals? Here we present a novel mechanistic explanation for its evolutionary perseverance the persistent Y hypothesis. The Y chromosome bears genes that act as their own judge, jury, and executioner in the tightly regulated meiotic surveillance pathways. These executioners are crucial for successful meiosis, yet need to be silenced during the meiotic sex chromosome inactivation window, otherwise germ cells die. Only rare transposition events to the X, where they remain subject to obligate meiotic silencing, are heritable, posing strong evolutionary constraint for the Y chromosome to persist.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Cromosomas Humanos X
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Cromosomas Humanos Y
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Inactivación del Cromosoma X
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Genes
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Células Germinativas
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Meiosis
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Trends Genet
Asunto de la revista:
GENETICA
Año:
2020
Tipo del documento:
Article