Scientists have uncovered evidence of Y chromosome degeneration in plant life. Will we, too, evolve to become a species of hermaphrodites?
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TORONTO, ON – In many species, the possession of X and Y chromosomes determines whether an individual develops into a male or female. In humans, for example, individuals who inherit their father’s Y chromosome become male (XY), and individuals who inherit their father’s X chromosome become female (XX).
This system of sex determination has evolved independently multiple times and a striking feature of its evolution is that Y chromosomes have degenerated genetically, losing many genes over time. What is not well understood, however, is what happens to the Y chromosome during the earliest stages of this evolution, or the time scales over which degeneration occurs.
Now, University of Toronto (U of T) researchers have found a way to shed light on the early stages of degeneration, by investigating the process in plants.