Human Y Chromosome Rapidly Degrading and May Vanish in Millions of Years
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The Y chromosome has lost over 1,600 of its original genes over the last 166 million years and continues to degrade rapidly. It may disappear completely in humans in about 4.5 million years.
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Some species like mole voles and spiny rats have already lost their Y chromosomes entirely. Their X chromosome exists in both males and females.
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Genes from the degrading Y chromosome can relocate to other chromosomes. This happened in spiny rats, allowing male sex determination to continue.
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There are conflicting theories about whether losing the Y chromosome would be problematic for human health and longevity or not. Some links to cancer, Alzheimer’s, and cardiovascular disease exist.
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Even if the Y chromosome disappears in humans, that won’t happen for millions of years. Our species is more likely to face extinction from other causes first.