Scientists Fully Decode the Human Y Chromosome for the First Time

Scientists have successfully decoded the entire structure of the human Y chromosome for the first time. An international team of researchers discovered 17% more genes (from 589 to 693) within it and identified 41 previously unknown genes. According to the researchers, the male Y chromosome has always been of particular interest due to its rapid shrinkage in size throughout mammalian evolution and the presence of segments that were difficult to decipher. The lack of data hindered geneticists and biologists from fully studying the mechanisms of male-related diseases associated with mutations in the Y chromosome. In the near future, experts plan to decipher the structure of the Y chromosome in different men and compare them, aiming to understand how DNA structure affects male infertility development.