What determines the sex of the baby and mammals is the Y chromosome of the man, but what is known so far is that it is in the degeneration phase and may become unknown for up to millions of years. That would result in the extinction of humans, basically. Of course, unless another sex gene develops.
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The good news is that two rodents had the loss of the Y chromosome and still managed to survive to be part of our days. The article from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science showed how a spiny mouse managed to develop a new male sex-determining gene.
change of chromosomes
The Y structure is determinant for the sex of humans and other mammals, since the female already has the X chromosome while the males have both the X and the Y.
The X contains 900 genes that are capable of doing all the work that is related to sex while the Y has about 55 genes accompanied by non-coding DNA, as science points out. However the Y displays the gene that initiates the process of male development.
After two weeks of gestation, the master gene activates others that form the testicles. It is through the embryonic testicle that the hormones male organs, ensuring that the baby develops like a boy.
Is the Y chromosome disappearing?
Mammals also have Y and X chromosomes, much like humans, but the system has problems because of the unequal dosage of X between males and females.
A survey was done and found that the Y structure lost 900-55 active genes in the period of 166 million years of human evolution. The loss is equivalent to five genes over millions of years. If this continues, the last 55 genes on the chromosome could simply disappear in 11 million years.
As said, the news is still good because of two rodents that lost the Y chromosome and are still alive. The rats had species of structure Y and the SRY that have already disappeared completely. In contrast, the X chromosome is alive in double dose for the male and the female.
What does the future hold?
There are many speculations about human evolution since the disappearance of the Y chromosome. Snakes and lizards can reproduce with their own genes, but this is not the case with humans. For reproduction, the individual needs the male sperm, so the end of the Y structure could mean human extinction.
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