WOULD the disappearance of the Y-chromosome create a new species?

Question

The theory is that the only gene on the Y-chromosome that is known to be unique to that chromosome is the SRY gene--the gene that "turns on" maleness in a developing fetus. So if the SRY gene eventually migrates to another chromosome and the X chromosome no longer needs to pair with a Y chromosome to create a male child, would that child be considered a "non-human?"

Discuss.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/health/HealthRepublish_1710838.htm

Ah, not females-only. There would still be males; it would just be a matter of the gene that "turns a fetus male" being on a different chromosome, making the y-chromosome obsolete.

A lot of you are saying that without a Y-chromosome, the child would not be male. Is it only the Y-chromosome that creates maleness? If the child had all the male phenotypes but no Y-chromosome (because the SRY "maleness" gene was on another chromosome and the Y-chromosome was defunct or fused to another chromosome) would it not be called a male?

Answer 1

Nope. The only requirement for distinctions between species relates to the ability to provide viable offspring. So long as the SRY gene is present elsewhere, and causes male sexual characteristics to assert during development, eg presence of testes and a penis, and the necessary hormone triggers such that at puberty, the testes will begin to produce viable, compatible sperm, the child would still be human, and would by most definitions still be "male", in spite of the absence of the once-defining Y chromosome.

Answer 2

First thing to keep in mind is that in other vertebrates, notably reptiles and birds, there is no Y chromosome to speak of. Sex determination resides on other chromosomes. In some reptiles, sex determination responds to a "reaction norm," that is a given genetic make-up will produce different phenotypes depending on the environment. In this case, the important factor is temperature. Differing incubation temperatures, for example in crocodilians, will produce different sexes. Second thing to keep in mind is that speciation events often involve changes in chromosome number or organization. In most cases such changes are lethal or produce defects in the offspring. This is so, because in sexually-reproducing organisms, homologous chromosomes have to pair up during sex-cell formation. If they don't, resulting sperm or egg will not have the full complement of genes needed by the offspring. But, especially in plants, chromosomal changes like these are thought to have given rise to new species. Finally, since only homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange some genetic material during sex-cell formation, and mechanisms have evolved that prevent X and Y chromosomes from crossing over, it is extremely unlikely that the SRY gene would migrate to another chromosome. If, for argument's sake, this should happen, an individual human with such a chromosomal aberation would not be considered "non-human," any more than individuals born with XXY or XYY chromosoimes would. By a generally accepted definition of species, a POPULATION that posseses mechanisms that prevent reproduction with related populations may be considered a separate species. When you think about it, a trait has to be heritable for it to be passed down. So, an individual with the condition you described will either be able to reproduce, in which case he will not be "non-human" or unable to reproduce, in which case he will remain an aberrant individual human.

Answer 3

without the Y gene, there would be only fmale humans, as the human sexes are separeted by two genes. Makes have one X gene and one Y gene, and females have two X genes. So, eventually, women will only be capable of producing female HUMANS, and POSSIBLEY, if it is posssible, another species entireley that has just one X gene, which will seperate it from the human species, or. . .well, only female humans. either that or scientists will produce some sort of medication that after so-and-so months of pregnancy the mother can choose to take that has some replacement Y gene that will insure a male child. this is just my logical guessing.

Answer 4

Not a different species, only males with XX chromosomes. This phenomena has been observed.

Answer 5

The child will only be a separate species if he cannot produce fertile human children with humans.

(A species is "a fundamental category of taxonomic classification, ranking below a genus or subgenus and consisting of related organisms capable of interbreeding.")

Answer 6

There would only be females (XX) and, unless there was a mutation that caused reproductive changes, we would go extinct. No new species.

Answer 7

all I know is the girl is XX they boy is XY , for the girl - if one x is deformed or missing she is born with Retts Syndrome, If the boy is missing X or Y he is Still Borne, which would leave no species to report of.

Answer 8

I know the virgin birth of Christ were did the y come from

Answer 9

no, they'll still call it human,... as long as it have a head, hands,and feet, and brain

Answer 10

just females and super females