Could the "Y" chromosome actually be a genetic mutation?

Question

(No, this isn't a "man-hating" question, it's a serious question, folks...) The Bible tells that "man" was the first human on this planet, and that "woman" was "made from" man. Biblical theory aside, what if men actually "came from" women? Could it be that women were first on this planet? Could women have produced asexually (without men)? Could the "Y" chromosome actually be a genetic mutation of the "X" chromosome? Could this explain why men have nipples equipped with milk ducts, and levels of the female hormone "estrogen"?

Serious answers only, please!

Matthewssh: Interesting answer! If it is a mutation, the fact that it has continued on suggests that it is necessary to the survival of the species, meaning, in short, men and women need each other for survival. Seems logical that we need each other for reproductive purposes, but perhaps the mutation occurred because we need each other for more than that alone?

Answer 1

Women also have testosterone... in lesser levels, but it's still there, just as estrogen is found in lesser levels in men.
Yes, I believe the Y chromosome is a mutation the X.. However, not so much in the degrading or insulting manner, but rather it is the one that allows for genetic changes, lab-rats of sorts. we change (very mildly) and if it is considered beneficial - great... if not, then it dies off.

Although feminists (and likeminded folk) have tried to assure men that we're dying out (over thousands of years), I believe the above is a more accurate likelihood.

Imagine if the world has a sudden change in atmosphere - the Y is more adapted to change, so guys will go through the stages first... if it's successful, the genes will pass through the chidlren, and so boys & girls will have the gene passed to them... and on and so on.

ETA:, yes - I agree with you, it seems to me that women are the 'template' for humans and man is the 'molder' (spelling?) thus explaining our continuance and dominance (humans - not 'men') over the planet... everytime something goes wrong on the planet, we adapt accordingly. Women give life (with help from men/sperm) and men cure the adapt-problems encountered, (with help from women/passing of genes). It seems to me, we're pretty much equal and need one another badly if we expect to still be around in 100,000 years.
I like your line of thought... great question (and I'm very glad you worded it diplomatically).
I'd give you a thumbs up...if I could.

Answer 2

As Shark said, it is the seat for genetic mutations and "experiments" so to speak. It is believed that this is why men vary more in intelligence, and why men suffer more from certain diseases.

As for women being the "first", well in a way, that's true, since the female is the "default" in the womb (this is why males have nipples). But no, women were never the sole member of homo Sapiens, and reproduced asexually. The x and y diverged over 300 million years ago, from an identical pair of chromosomes (not x), and this was LONG before humans evolved. The y is not a mutation of the x, it simply became the conduit for mutations.

Answer 3

Yes. In a way. Mathewssh gave a good answer.
(Women have testosterone too you know? We need both to be healthy, especially testosterone.)

In the womb, the fetus starts off as female, XX, and later on, it can receive an extra dose of androgens which will turn it into XY.

There are benefits and drawbacks to being XX or XY.
On the whole, women tend to resist more genetic deceases than men since they are XX, which is why there are so many worthless males. Now, a man with a normal X and Y would be as good as dealing with the same genetic deceases as women, but would also benefit from the Y chromsome.

Besides, genetic mutation isn't always bad. Think of X-Men. The mutants have great powers.

(PS: You should post this in Biology section if you want accurate answers; the folks here don't know too much about biology.)

Answer 4

The thing you must understand, is that you provided a hypothesis, but there's no way to prove nor disprove at this point.
Some scientists believe in the theory of evolution, which encompasses inter-species evolving(and not simple adaptation to our surroundings---evolving within our own species to new surroundings). In order to believe this, you would need to believe that our gene's mutate to accommodate an entirely new species. If this was the case, then it is possible to Hypothesize that the Y chromosome is a mutation(or even X for that matter). Again, theoretically, all of our current chromosomes are mutations of prior chromosomes when we were a different species.

But, then consider... if someone is Asexual, then they are neither female nor male in a reproductive organ sense(so you can't say they were females).

I think this is really too involved to answer this from a Social Perspective.

Personal Opinion: No. Everything is meant to be this way. Otherwise, our environment would be different and we would be different.

Answer 5

You see, that would be way too far fetched, becuase you're bringing something out of nothing all over again, just like evolution does all the time. However, it would make way more sense that the woman came from the man (provide the story of God), because of the x y chromosome factor. Women have two x x chromosomes. It would only make sense that two x's could come from the man, which already contained 1 x chromosome. To have y come out of x x is a mutation, and life wouldn't work right. It would be like saying that the woman came from the man, but she is has two chromosomes x and z. Just doesn't work. That would be harder to believe than vice versa, and even harder to believe than Jesus being the only begotten Son of God, who died on the cross, for you to received and be refreshed.


Tera,

We do need each other for more. Women and men complete each other, and this is where people differ from animals altogether. Men and women are like a plug and socket. You could argue who's more powerful, but one either does nothing without the other, even though the socket contains pure power, and the plug just sits there, lifeless, without the power.

Answer 6

Some animals don't even have that chromosome. For example, some species of fish are either "XX" or "X (blank)". They have no "Y" chromosomes. Also, there is a species of lizard living in Arizona where there are no males. They are all females. They can reproduce asexually but two will get together and simulate the sex act. It appears they still need to go through the motions to get the eggs laid.

Answer 7

If you read my earlier answer with the inclusion of parthenogenosis, you would have gotten your answer there.

Do this simple research if you are really after scientific answers and not opinionated conjecture.

Terms: Chromosome Parthenogenesis "chromosomal types"

Male chromosome may have a future after all
Analysis turns up no signs of recent degradation, despite past worries
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9146267/

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/parthenogenesis
parthenogenesis - process in which an unfertilized egg develops into a new individual; common among insects and some other arthropods
parthenogeny
androgenesis, androgeny - male parthenogenesis in which the embryo contains only paternal chromosomes due to the failure of the egg nucleus to participate in fertilization
apomixis - any of several kinds of reproduction without fertilization
gynogenesis - female parthenogenesis in which the embryo contains only maternal chromosomes due to the failure of the sperm to fuse with the egg nucleus

Answer 8

Yikes someones been reading Valarie Solanas.

FYI: Prepare for the shitstorm

On a side note: I grew up going to church, and I once heard a pastor say that instead of the rib, God took the extra leg from the male X chromosome and gave it to the woman. so that adam had the Y and eve had the X

I know, ridiculous, just saying I've heard it argued. Interesting modern take on Genesis.

Answer 9

No ma'am. All species have males and females. Mutations only occur in a single species (single specimen, actually).

And my boy cat has nipples too. S'plain that!

Answer 10

It could be, but not for humans, are evolution was both sexes developed at the same time.

As for the very 1st creature on the planet, yes that is a possibilty.