A new model for random X chromosome inactivation.
X chromosome inactivation (XCI) reduces the number of actively transcribed X chromosomes to one per diploid set of autosomes, allowing for dosage equality between the sexes. In eutherians, the inactive X chromosome in XX females is randomly selected. The mechanisms for determining both how many X chromosomes are present and which to inactivate are unknown. To understand these mechanisms, researchers have created X chromosome mutations and transgenes. Here, we introduce a new model of X chromosome inactivation that aims to account for the findings in recent studies, to promote a re-interpretation of existing data and to direct future experiments.
Starmer
Joshua
J
Department of Genetics and the Carolina Center for the Genome Sciences, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Magnuson
Terry
T
D000818:Animals; D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D049951:X Chromosome Inactivation / Q000235:genetics*