– Biologists have discovered that the Y chromosome in humans is at risk of disappearing, potentially leading to the end of male offspring in the future.
– A new study on the spiny rat, a rodent species native to Japan, has shown that it evolved a new male-determining gene as its Y chromosome disappeared.
– The potential extinction of the human Y chromosome has raised concerns about the future of human reproduction and species survival.
– The spiny rat’s adaptation offers hope that mammals can evolve alternative sex-determining mechanisms when the Y chromosome is lost.
– This research provides insight into the possibility of humans evolving a new sex-determining gene to ensure the continuation of male offspring production.
– However, scientists caution that such evolutionary changes could lead to the emergence of multiple sex-determining systems in different human populations.