Study dispels theories of Y chromosome's demise: Stripped-down chromosome retains key genes for fertility

Population geneticists compared the Y chromosomes of eight African and eight European men to understand why the chromosome is so puny. They attribute the size to strong natural selection to remove harmful genes -- so-called purifying selection -- but find essential roles for the remaining genes, dispelling the common notion that the Y's genes are mostly unimportant and that the chromosome is destined to dwindle and disappear.

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