Chromosome Y News and Research

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The Y chromosome is one of the two sex chromosomes in humans (the other is the X chromosome). The sex chromosomes form one of the 23 pairs of human chromosomes in each cell. The Y chromosome spans about 58 million base pairs (the building blocks of DNA) and represents almost 2 percent of the total DNA in cells.

Each person normally has one pair of sex chromosomes in each cell. The Y chromosome is present in males, who have one X and one Y chromosome, while females have two X chromosomes.

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 Y chromosome likely contains between 70 and 200 genes. Because only males have the Y chromosome, the genes on this chromosome tend to be involved in male sex determination and development. Sex is determined by the SRY gene, which is responsible for the development of a fetus into a male. Other genes on the Y chromosome are important for male fertility.

Many genes are unique to the X or Y chromosome, but genes in an area known as 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.

Genes on the Y chromosome are among the estimated 20,000 to 25,000 total genes in the human genome.

CSHL scientist discovers how bookmarking protein triggers leukemia

Each cell inherits genes from its parent as well as epigenetic information - what amounts to an instruction manual that specifies which genes should be activated or "expressed," when and to what level.

6 Jan 2010

New chromosomal screening strategy shows promise in PGS

A new strategy that researchers believe provides a more comprehensive screening of the entire chromosomal makeup of an embryo shows tremendous promise in the field of preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) according to a study published in the December issue of Fertility and Sterility.

31 Dec 2009

NFXF applauds the Congress and President for including Fragile X Syndrome for research funding

The National Fragile X Foundation applauds the United States Congress and President Barack Obama for including Fragile X Syndrome for the first time ever within a select group of conditions eligible for research funding from the U.S. Department of Defense.

30 Dec 2009

CtIP protein plays a critical role in DNA repair

La Jolla, CA-In order to preserve our DNA, cells have developed an intricate system for monitoring and repairing DNA damage. Yet precisely how the initial damage signal is converted into a repair response remains unclear. Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have now solved a crucial piece of the complex puzzle.

28 Dec 2009

Achievements in lupus research, education and advocacy cause for celebration and hope

The year 2009 will be remembered as a year of many firsts for lupus, including the first successful phase III clinical trial of a potential new treatment for lupus, the launch of the first-ever Ad Council public awareness campaign for lupus, and the first comprehensive report on the barriers to lupus drug development. And it appears there are no signs of any slowing of momentum as we enter the New Year.

23 Dec 2009

Gene's role in immune system may suggest new treatments for childhood asthma

Pediatric researchers have identified a novel gene involved in childhood asthma, in one of the largest gene studies to date of the common respiratory disease. Because the gene, called DENND1B, affects cells and signaling molecules thought to be instrumental in the immune system overreaction that occurs in asthma, the discovery may have singled out an important target for new treatments.

23 Dec 2009

Scientists use DNA sequence to characterize genome rearrangement in breast cancer samples

The first detailed search of breast cancer genomes to uncover genomic rearrangements is published today. The team characterised the ways in which the human genome is broken and put back together in 24 cases of breast cancer.

23 Dec 2009

Discovery suggests how toxin-filtering cells go awry

Researchers from Children's Hospital Boston and Brigham and Women's Hospital have identified an important genetic cause of a devastating kidney disease that is the second leading cause of kidney failure in children, according to The NephCure Foundation.

22 Dec 2009

John Theurer Cancer Center presents over 20 research updates and trial results at the 2009 ASH meeting

Doctors and researchers from the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center recently presented research updates and clinical trial results of more than 20 innovative studies at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting from December 5-8, 2009.

18 Dec 2009

Human protein may help prevent H1N1 infection

Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers have identified a naturally occurring human protein that helps prevent infection by H1N1 influenza and other viruses, including West Nile and dengue virus.

18 Dec 2009

Landmark study provides new insight into congenital heart defects

Researchers from the UC San Diego, School of Medicine and colleagues have identified a new gene, ETS-1, that is linked to human congenital heart defects. The landmark study, recently published online in the journal of Human Molecular Genetics, provides important insights into some of the most prevalent forms of congenital heart defects in humans, including ventricular septal defects and potentially hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a uniformly fatal heart abnormality.

18 Dec 2009

Genes work together by huddling in clusters inside nucleus, research reveals

Research from the Babraham Institute has revealed for the first time that genes work together by huddling in clusters inside the nucleus - the information centre of a cell. These findings, published in the online edition of the journal Nature Genetics, represent a paradigm shift in our understanding of how the genome is spatially organised in relation to gene expression.

16 Dec 2009

Results from five new studies on Genomic Health's Oncotype DX breast cancer test announced

Genomic Health, Inc. today announced results from five new studies on its Oncotype DX® breast cancer test, a multi-gene expression test that physicians currently use to predict the likelihood of chemotherapy benefit and recurrence risk for patients with early-stage breast cancer.

16 Dec 2009

Study may help in treating sex differentiation disorders in children

Is it a boy or a girl? Expecting parents may be accustomed to this question, but contrary to what they may think, the answer doesn't depend solely on their child's sex chromosomes.

11 Dec 2009

Researchers discover new explanation for differences in severity of mental illness in males

Researchers have discovered a new explanation for differences in the severity of mental illness in males. The more excess copies of a certain gene, the more serious the handicap. The genetic defect is situated on the X-chromosome; and it is suspected that it is the amount of copies of the GDI1 gene that is responsible.

11 Dec 2009

Tasigna demonstrates greater efficacy over Gleevec in chronic Ph+ CML patients

In a large Phase III clinical trial, Tasigna (nilotinib capsules) demonstrated greater efficacy over Gleevec (imatinib) in the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase. The new clinical data were just presented as a late breaking abstract at the 51st annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), in New Orleans, Louisiana.

11 Dec 2009

Enzo Biochem and Ikonisys sign agreement to market molecular-based cervical cancer test

Enzo Biochem, Inc. announced today that its Enzo Clinical Lab division has entered into an exclusive marketing partnership covering the States of New York and New Jersey with privately-owned Ikonisys, Inc., of New Haven, CT, relating to Ikonisys’ proprietary oncoFISH® cervical test, a laboratory developed test for cervical cancer prevention.

10 Dec 2009

Clinical trial results demonstrate greater efficacy of nilotinib over imatinib for Ph+ CML

In a large clinical trial, nilotinib demonstrated greater efficacy over the current gold standard treatment, imatinib, in adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia (Ph+ CML) in the chronic phase.

9 Dec 2009

CML patients on nilotinib or dasatinib drug achieve better response than imatinib drug

Two medications approved as treatment for drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia continue to provide patients with quicker, better responses as a first treatment than the existing front-line drug, researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center reported at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

8 Dec 2009

Positive data from ARIAD Pharmaceuticals' ongoing AP24534 study in advanced hematological cancer patients

ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced positive clinical data from an ongoing Phase 1 study of its investigational, pan-BCR-ABL inhibitor, AP24534, in patients with advanced hematological cancers.

8 Dec 2009

Chromosome Y News and Research

Further Reading

CSHL scientist discovers how bookmarking protein triggers leukemia

New chromosomal screening strategy shows promise in PGS

NFXF applauds the Congress and President for including Fragile X Syndrome for research funding

CtIP protein plays a critical role in DNA repair

Achievements in lupus research, education and advocacy cause for celebration and hope

Gene's role in immune system may suggest new treatments for childhood asthma

Scientists use DNA sequence to characterize genome rearrangement in breast cancer samples

Discovery suggests how toxin-filtering cells go awry

John Theurer Cancer Center presents over 20 research updates and trial results at the 2009 ASH meeting

Human protein may help prevent H1N1 infection

Landmark study provides new insight into congenital heart defects

Genes work together by huddling in clusters inside nucleus, research reveals

Results from five new studies on Genomic Health's Oncotype DX breast cancer test announced

Study may help in treating sex differentiation disorders in children

Researchers discover new explanation for differences in severity of mental illness in males

Tasigna demonstrates greater efficacy over Gleevec in chronic Ph+ CML patients

Enzo Biochem and Ikonisys sign agreement to market molecular-based cervical cancer test

Clinical trial results demonstrate greater efficacy of nilotinib over imatinib for Ph+ CML

CML patients on nilotinib or dasatinib drug achieve better response than imatinib drug

Positive data from ARIAD Pharmaceuticals' ongoing AP24534 study in advanced hematological cancer patients

Industry Focus eBook - Forensics & toxicology (2nd edition) eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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