Y Chromosome Evolution

Vladimir A Gvozdev, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Moscow, Russia

Published online: March 2008

DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0020740

The evolution of the Y chromosomes of different taxa (humans, plants and Drosophila) is considered as well as the degeneration processes that affected the autosomal ancestor (proto-Y chromosome). The acquisition of testis-expressed genes and their amplifications on the Y chromosome are discussed. In spite of the differences and the specificity of evolutionary forces driving their diversification, the molecular studies of the Y chromosomal structures reveal some unexpected similarities in different evolutionary lineages.

Keywords: Y chromosome; degenerate genes; ampliconic sequences; heterochromatin; loss of recombination

Figure 1. Simplified scheme of the human Y chromosome structure, according to the results of sequencing (Skaletsky et al., 2003). PAR, pseudoautosomal regions; Cen, centromere; Yp and Yq, left and right arms, respectively; intermingled ampliconic and X-degenerate regions are shown; AZF, location of azoospermia factor, containing amplified genes; SRY, sex chromosome-determining region.
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 References
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 Further Reading
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Related Sub-Topics:

Evolutionary Genomics | Molecular Evolution | Chromosomes and Chromatin Modifications | Evolution of Coding and Functional Modules
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Article Title: Y Chromosome Evolution
 
How to Cite close
Gvozdev, Vladimir A(Mar 2008) Y Chromosome Evolution. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0020740]