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Mammalian Sex Chromosome Evolution

  1. Gerald J Wyckoff1,
  2. Christine M Malcom2

Published Online: 15 JUL 2008

DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0005792.pub2

Book Title

eLS

eLS

Additional Information

How to Cite

Wyckoff, G. J. and Malcom, C. M. 2008. Mammalian Sex Chromosome Evolution. eLS.

Author Information

  1. 1

    University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

  2. 2

    University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Publication History

  1. Published Online: 15 JUL 2008
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Although they are highly dissimilar in sequence content in extant organisms, the mammalian sex chromosomes (i.e. the X and Y) evolved from a pair of autosomes. Differentiation of the sex chromosomes during evolution was initiated by the suppression of X–Y recombination. This was followed by the general degeneration of genes on the Y-chromosome, with specific instances of gene specialization on the nonrecombining portion of the Y.

Keywords: X-chromosome; Y-chromosome; mammalian sex chromosomes; Y degeneration; pseudoautosomal region; nonrecombining Y

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