title: Y-chromosome evolution: emerging insights into processes of Y-chromosome degeneration.
abstract: The human Y chromosome is intriguing not only because it harbours the master-switch gene that determines gender but also because of its unusual evolutionary history. The Y chromosome evolved from an autosome, and its evolution has been characterized by massive gene decay. Recent whole-genome and transcriptome analyses of Y chromosomes in humans and other primates, in Drosophila species and in plants have shed light on the current gene content of the Y chromosome, its origins and its long-term fate. Furthermore, comparative analysis of young and old Y chromosomes has given further insights into the evolutionary and molecular forces triggering Y-chromosome degeneration and into the evolutionary destiny of the Y chromosome.
authors: Department of Integrative Biology, Center for Theoretical Evolutionary Genomics, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA. dbachtrog@berkeley.edu
authors: Doris
authors: D
authors: Bachtrog
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005785:Gene Conversion; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000235:genetics; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012730:Sex Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000235:genetics*