Chromosome X News and Research

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The X chromosome is one of the two sex chromosomes in humans (the other is the Y chromosome). The sex chromosomes form one of the 23 pairs of human chromosomes in each cell. The X chromosome spans about 155 million base pairs (the building blocks of DNA) and represents approximately 5 percent of the total DNA in cells.

Each person normally has one pair of sex chromosomes in each cell. Females have two X chromosomes, while males have one X and one Y chromosome. Early in embryonic development in females, one of the two X chromosomes is randomly and permanently inactivated in somatic cells (cells other than egg and sperm cells). This phenomenon is called X-inactivation or Lyonization. X-inactivation ensures that females, like males, have one functional copy of the X chromosome in each body cell. Because X-inactivation is random, in normal females the X chromosome inherited from the mother is active in some cells, and the X chromosome inherited from the father is active in other cells.

Some genes on the X chromosome escape X-inactivation. These genes are located at the tip of the short (p) arm of the X chromosome in an area known as the pseudoautosomal region. Although many genes are unique to the X or Y chromosome, genes in the pseudoautosomal region are present on both chromosomes. As a result, men and women each have two functional copies of these genes. Many genes in the pseudoautosomal region are essential for normal development.

Identifying genes on each chromosome is an active area of genetic research. Because researchers use different approaches to predict the number of genes on each chromosome, the estimated number of genes varies. The X chromosome likely contains between 900 and 1,400 genes.

Genes on the X chromosome are among the estimated 20,000 to 25,000 total genes in the human genome.
Cell's anti-aging structures can set the damage threshold a cancer cell can sustain, study shows

Cell's anti-aging structures can set the damage threshold a cancer cell can sustain, study shows

New mechanism may prevent the natural aging of immune cells

New mechanism may prevent the natural aging of immune cells

Experimental drug prolongs survival, improves muscle function in mice severe Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Experimental drug prolongs survival, improves muscle function in mice severe Duchenne muscular dystrophy

New technology reveals cellular changes across neural-epithelial-vascular complex in choroideremia

New technology reveals cellular changes across neural-epithelial-vascular complex in choroideremia

Study investigates the efficacy and safety of selpercatinib in a diverse group of patients

Study investigates the efficacy and safety of selpercatinib in a diverse group of patients

Phase I/II LIBRETTO-001 trial: RET inhibitor achieves durable objective responses across multiple tumors

Phase I/II LIBRETTO-001 trial: RET inhibitor achieves durable objective responses across multiple tumors

GnRH therapy could improve cognitive deficits in men with Down syndrome

GnRH therapy could improve cognitive deficits in men with Down syndrome

Gene variants associated with blood type may contribute to risk of early stroke

Gene variants associated with blood type may contribute to risk of early stroke

Brain activity patterns during sleep shed light on the neurobiology behind 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

Brain activity patterns during sleep shed light on the neurobiology behind 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

Genetic screening before pregnancy detects the risk in 44% of couples

Genetic screening before pregnancy detects the risk in 44% of couples

Study addresses food texture challenges in the life of children with Down syndrome

Study addresses food texture challenges in the life of children with Down syndrome

Facial recognition algorithms show genetic similarities in genetically unrelated look-alike humans

Facial recognition algorithms show genetic similarities in genetically unrelated look-alike humans

Simple blood test can accurately detect Alzheimer's disease in people with Down syndrome

Simple blood test can accurately detect Alzheimer's disease in people with Down syndrome

Combination of new testing methods helps identify multiple dementia risk genes

Combination of new testing methods helps identify multiple dementia risk genes

GPNMB established as a risk gene and potential therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease

GPNMB established as a risk gene and potential therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease

The eyes of mutant zebrafish help understand the role of a protein in preventing cell death

The eyes of mutant zebrafish help understand the role of a protein in preventing cell death

Research progress on the three-dimensional interaction between virus and host genome

Research progress on the three-dimensional interaction between virus and host genome

NIH researchers develop three-dimensional structure of twinkle protein

NIH researchers develop three-dimensional structure of twinkle protein

Study reveals the effects of an atypical mode of chromosome arrangement on genome architecture and evolution

Study reveals the effects of an atypical mode of chromosome arrangement on genome architecture and evolution

Fruit fly genome contains whole genomes of a kind of bacteria, study finds

Fruit fly genome contains whole genomes of a kind of bacteria, study finds

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