Study 'casts doubt' on the need for a Y chromosome

Conclusion This is interesting research furthering our understanding of reproductive biology. It demonstrates that even with complete lack of the Y chromosome the addition of two genes, Sry and Eif2s3y, enabled the mice to develop testes and then to produce sperm – albeit in low numbers and with structural abnormalities. It is very unlikely that these mice would have been able to father any offspring if allowed to mate naturally. However, IVF techniques demonstrated that the sperm cells they produced were able to fertilise an egg, and apparently go on to produce live and healthy, fertile offspring. However, mice are not the same as men, and in men the genes involved in the production of healthy sperm are not identical to those studied here in mice. The main conclusion of the researchers says it all: “Our findings are relevant, but not directly translatable, to human males”. It seems, at least for the time being, that the Y chromosome is here to stay. Analysis by Bazian. Edited by NHS Choices. Follow Behind the Headlines on Twitter. Links To The Headlines Y chromosome: Why men contribute so little. BBC News, November 22 2013 Links To Science Yamauchi Y, Riel JM, Stoytcheva Z, Ward MA. Two Y Genes Can Replace the Entire Y Chromosome for Assisted Reproduction in the Mouse. Science. Published online November 21 2013
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Genetics/stem cells Source Type: news