As per recent studies, the human Y chromosome is gradually deteriorating and might completely vanish in a few million years.
Y Chromosome’s Future in Doubt, but Rodent Study Shows Potential for Evolutionary Adaptation
It is the same “Y” chromosome that is crucial for developing male characteristics in humans and most mammals. This finding has raised concerns about the future of human reproduction and survival unless an alternative sex-determining mechanism evolves.
On the flipside, there is still some light at the end of the tunnel as there is optimism which is inspired by the rodents. There are certain rodent species have lost their Y chromosome but continue to thrive.
As per a study titled ‘Turnover of mammal sex chromosomes in the Sry-deficient Amami spiny rat is due to male-specific upregulation of Sox9,’ published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) it is illustrated how life can adapt to such genetic changes.
A small Japanese rodent, Amami Spiny rat, has developed a new male-determining gene to compensate for the loss of its Y chromosome, which further demonstrates the fact that evolution can offer solutions even when key genetic components are missing.
The Role of the Y Chromosome and Potential for Evolutionary Adaptation
Let’s take a dive deeper into chromosomes and the sex determination.
So when it comes to mammals, males have one X and one smaller Y chromosome whereas the females have two X chromosomes. Despite its reduced size and fewer genes—about 55 compared to the X chromosomes’ 900—the Y chromosome is essential for determining male sex. Its master gene, SRY (sex-determining region on the Y), initiates the formation of testes and the production of male hormones like testosterone, leading to the development of male characteristics.
The slow decline of the “Y” has perturbed scientists, who believe that the same could disappear in approximately 11 million years. This has further sparked the debate over the eventual extinction of the male and eventually the humanity.
But the silver lining is the example of the spiny rat’s adaptation suggests that life might find alternative methods for sex determination, which offers hope for similar solutions in humans if necessary.
This exemplifies the resilience as well as adaptability of nature suggesting that even in the absence of the Y chromosome, life will find a way to continue.
