An ally for the understudied Y chromosome
Alexander Godfrey, a PhD student in biology at MIT, is acutely fascinated by the Y chromosome, which confers maleness. This chromosome is often considered a genetic castaway — because its complexity makes it very difficult to study — but Godfrey is undeterred. Four years into his degree, he continues to push forward, attempting to get to know a chromosome that 50 percent of the population has, but few understand. Although the Y chromosome is typically cast as merely a developmental on-switch for maleness, with few other genetic roles, Godfrey’s research may contribute to an understanding of it as a contributor to differences between men and women throughout the body and lifetime. Focusing on individuals As an undergraduate at Princeton University, Godfrey initially pursued engineering — a path that his high school teachers encouraged him to take. But he quickly realized he was more interested in qualitative understanding, and switched to molecular biology, focusing...