The Y chromosome and the Gender Lottery
The assumption that the Y chromosome plays a role in determining sex is not true.
In this article, I attempt to explore the biological complexity of human genetics and gender determination
Almost every human cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 46 chromosomes.
- Females typically have total of 46 X chromosomes.
- Males typically have 45 X chromosomes and one Y chromosome.
Chromosome repair mechanisms and Evolution
- When an X chromosome is damaged, it can exchange information with its partner during cell formation, thus repairing genetic errors over time.
- However, if the Y-chromosome is damaged, it lacks a matching partner chromosome for data exchange, since men only have one Y chromosome so it cannot benefit from the same robust recombination mechanism as the X chromosome.
As a result, the Y chromosome has become significantly smaller over millions of years of evolution.
On average, the X chromosome contains about 1000 genes, while the Y-chromosome is tiny and contains only about 45 to 86 genes.
This means that a boy or a girl inherits their intelligence from their mother.
The Y-chromosome does not carry intelligence.
Therefore, when filling out questionnaires, it is better to give the mother’s name, not the father’s.
The Y-Chromosome’s Two Missions
- Signaling X-chromosomes in the womb to begin “masculinization” and the formation of male sex organs (The TDF Switch).
- Directing the fetal brain toward male structural and behavioral patterns.
Here are some of the chromosomal variations and medical syndromes listed.
| Chromosome(s) | Internal/ External Organs | Behavioral/ Mental Pattern | Biological Outcome | |
| XY | Male / Male | Male | Male | Standard male development. |
| XX | Female / Female | Female | Female | Standard female development. |
| X (45, X) | ? / Female | Completely Female | Turner Syndrome | Sterile female; often under 150cm, short neck, heart and kidney issues. |
| XY | Female / Female | Female | Swyer Syndrome | The result is a tall, athletic woman with a strong immune system. A superwoman. Unfortunately, an infertile woman. |
| XX (46, XX-DSD) | ? / ? | Male | XX Male | Theoretically capable of pregnancy in some cases. |
| XXY | Female / Male | Male | Klinefelter Syndrome | Sterile male; wider hips, narrow shoulders, and long limbs. |
| XXXXY / XXXXX | ? / ? | ? | Severe Variations | Often leads to high mortality or severe, increasing health problems. |
Other major syndromes that involve an extra copy of a non-sex chromosome:
- Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome): Occurs when there are three copies of chromosome 21. It results in distinct physical features and mental disabilities.
- Trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome): Three copies of chromosome 18. Most cases result in miscarriage or death within the first few days of life.
- Trisomy 13 (Pätau Syndrome): Three copies of chromosome 13. Extremely high mortality rate; survivors are often blind, deaf, or have severe epilepsy and mental disabilities.
Note:
Since most people with these syndromes are unable to reproduce, most of these diseases are not “inherited” across generations, but occur randomly in nature like a recurring “lottery”.
Leave a Reply