Chromosome X: Difference between revisions

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Chrom<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">osome X is one of the two </span>[[Sex chromosomes|sex-determining chromosomes]]<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> found in humans and many other animals,(the other is a </span>[[Y chromosome|Y chromosome]]<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">). In a normal human female, there are two X chromosomes (these are known as </span>[[Homogametic|homogametic]]<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">), and in a normal male there is one X and one Y (these are&nbsp;</span>[[Heterogametic|heterogametic]]<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">). <ref>Ross, MT et al. (2005). The DNA sequence of the human X chromosome. Nature, 434:325-337</ref></span>  
Chrom<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">osome X is one of the two </span>[[Sex chromosomes|sex-determining chromosomes]]<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> found in humans and many other animals, the other being the </span>[[Y chromosome|Y chromosome]]<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">. In a normal human female, there are two X chromosomes (these are known as </span>[[Homogametic|homogametic]]<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">), and in a normal male there is one X and one Y (these are&nbsp;</span>[[Heterogametic|heterogametic]]<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">)<ref>Ross, MT et al. (2005). The DNA sequence of the human X chromosome. Nature, 434:325-337</ref>.</span>


<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">An X chromosome is much larger than a Y chromosome</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">. As human males have only one X chromosome, the likelihood of inheriting an X chromosome linked disease in males is much greater than females.&nbsp;</span>  
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">An X chromosome is much larger than a Y chromosome</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">. As human males have only one X chromosome, the likelihood of inheriting an X chromosome linked disease in males is much greater than females.&nbsp;</span>  
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Many X chromosome related diseases result from an abnormal number of chromosomes due to&nbsp;[[Nondisjunction|nondisjunction]]&nbsp;during&nbsp;[[Meiosis|meiosis]]. Some examples of these include:  
Many X chromosome related diseases result from an abnormal number of chromosomes due to&nbsp;[[Nondisjunction|nondisjunction]]&nbsp;during&nbsp;[[Meiosis|meiosis]]. Some examples of these include:  


*[[Klinefelter syndrome|Klinefelter syndrome]] - this is caused by the presence of at least one extra X chromosome in a male [[Karyotype|karyotype]]&nbsp;giving a 47,XXY karyotype or less frequently 48,XXXY, 49,XXXXY and 48,XXYY karyotypes. The extra X chromosome interferes with the males sexual development and reduces levels of testosterone.<ref>Who.int, (2014). WHO | Gender and Genetics. [online] Available at: http://www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/index1.html#KlinefelterSyndrome [Accessed 26 Nov. 2014].</ref>  
*[[Klinefelter syndrome|Klinefelter syndrome]] - this is caused by the presence of at least one extra X chromosome in a male [[Karyotype|karyotype]]&nbsp;giving a 47,XXY karyotype or less frequently 48,XXXY, 49,XXXXY and 48,XXYY karyotypes. The extra X chromosome interferes with the males sexual development and reduces levels of testosterone<ref>Who.int, (2014). WHO | Gender and Genetics. [online] Available at: http://www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/index1.html#KlinefelterSyndrome [Accessed 26 Nov. 2014].</ref>.
*[[Turner syndrome|Turner syndrome]]&nbsp;- this is caused by the presence of only one X chromosome giving a 45,X karyotype. This results in altered development, short stature and infertility.<ref>Who.int, (2014). WHO | Gender and Genetics. [online] Available at: http://www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/index1.html#Turnersyndrome [Accessed 26 Nov. 2014].</ref>  
*[[Turner syndrome|Turner syndrome]]&nbsp;- this is caused by the presence of only one X chromosome giving a 45,X karyotype. This results in altered development, short stature and infertility<ref>Who.int, (2014). WHO | Gender and Genetics. [online] Available at: http://www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/index1.html#Turnersyndrome [Accessed 26 Nov. 2014].</ref>.
*[[Trisomy X|Trisomy X]]&nbsp;- this is caused by an extra copy of an X chromosome in female cells and gives a 47,XXX karyotype. It shows no obvious characteristics different to the rest of the female population except accelerated growth and speech and language disabilities.<ref>Who.int, (2014). WHO | Gender and Genetics. [online] Available at: http://www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/index1.html#XXXFemales [Accessed 26 Nov. 2014].</ref>
*[[Trisomy X|Trisomy X]]&nbsp;- this is caused by an extra copy of an X chromosome in female cells and gives a 47,XXX karyotype. It shows no obvious characteristics different to the rest of the female population except accelerated growth and speech and language impairment<ref>Who.int, (2014). WHO | Gender and Genetics. [online] Available at: http://www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/index1.html#XXXFemales [Accessed 26 Nov. 2014].</ref>.


There are also many [[X-linked|X linked]] diseases which can be inherited from parents. If only the mother is affected by the disease (either [[Genotype|genotypcially]] or [[Phenotype|phenotypically]]), a son is more likely to have the disease. This is because they only have one X chromosome so the affected gene will be expressed. A daughter will have a 50% chance of inheriting the disease. If only the father has the disease, 100% of daughters will be carriers as they inherit an X chromosome from each parent. A son will not inherit the disease as they inherit their X chromosomes maternally.<ref>http://genome.wellcome.ac.uk/doc_WTD020851.html</ref>  
There are also many [[X-linked|X linked]] diseases which can be inherited from parents. If only the mother is affected by the disease (either [[Genotype|genotypcially]] or [[Phenotype|phenotypically]]), a son is more likely to have the disease. This is because they only have one X chromosome so the affected gene will be expressed. A daughter will have a 50% chance of inheriting the disease. If only the father has the disease, 100% of daughters will be carriers as they inherit an X chromosome from each parent. A son will not inherit the disease as they inherit their X chromosomes maternally<ref>http://genome.wellcome.ac.uk/doc_WTD020851.html</ref>.


=== [[X chromosome Inactivation|<u>X Inactivation</u>]] ===
=== X chromosome Inactivation  ===


X chromosome inactivation is the process by which all but one X chromosomes are defunctionalized in a cell and become [[Barr Body|barr bodies]].<ref>Ahn, J. and Lee, J. (2008) X chromosome: X inactivation. Nature Education, 1(1):24</ref><br>  
[[X chromosome Inactivation|X chromosome inactivation]] is the process by which all but one X chromosomes are defunctionalized in a cell and become [[Barr Body|barr bodies]]<ref>Ahn, J. and Lee, J. (2008) X chromosome: X inactivation. Nature Education, 1(1):24</ref>.<br>  


=== References ===
=== References ===


<references /><br>
<references /><br>

Latest revision as of 11:49, 23 November 2018

Chromosome X is one of the two sex-determining chromosomes found in humans and many other animals, the other being the Y chromosome. In a normal human female, there are two X chromosomes (these are known as homogametic), and in a normal male there is one X and one Y (these are heterogametic)[1].

An X chromosome is much larger than a Y chromosome. As human males have only one X chromosome, the likelihood of inheriting an X chromosome linked disease in males is much greater than females. 

Many X chromosome related diseases result from an abnormal number of chromosomes due to nondisjunction during meiosis. Some examples of these include:

  • Klinefelter syndrome - this is caused by the presence of at least one extra X chromosome in a male karyotype giving a 47,XXY karyotype or less frequently 48,XXXY, 49,XXXXY and 48,XXYY karyotypes. The extra X chromosome interferes with the males sexual development and reduces levels of testosterone[2].
  • Turner syndrome - this is caused by the presence of only one X chromosome giving a 45,X karyotype. This results in altered development, short stature and infertility[3].
  • Trisomy X - this is caused by an extra copy of an X chromosome in female cells and gives a 47,XXX karyotype. It shows no obvious characteristics different to the rest of the female population except accelerated growth and speech and language impairment[4].

There are also many X linked diseases which can be inherited from parents. If only the mother is affected by the disease (either genotypcially or phenotypically), a son is more likely to have the disease. This is because they only have one X chromosome so the affected gene will be expressed. A daughter will have a 50% chance of inheriting the disease. If only the father has the disease, 100% of daughters will be carriers as they inherit an X chromosome from each parent. A son will not inherit the disease as they inherit their X chromosomes maternally[5].

X chromosome Inactivation

X chromosome inactivation is the process by which all but one X chromosomes are defunctionalized in a cell and become barr bodies[6].

References

  1. Ross, MT et al. (2005). The DNA sequence of the human X chromosome. Nature, 434:325-337
  2. Who.int, (2014). WHO | Gender and Genetics. [online] Available at: http://www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/index1.html#KlinefelterSyndrome [Accessed 26 Nov. 2014].
  3. Who.int, (2014). WHO | Gender and Genetics. [online] Available at: http://www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/index1.html#Turnersyndrome [Accessed 26 Nov. 2014].
  4. Who.int, (2014). WHO | Gender and Genetics. [online] Available at: http://www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/index1.html#XXXFemales [Accessed 26 Nov. 2014].
  5. http://genome.wellcome.ac.uk/doc_WTD020851.html
  6. Ahn, J. and Lee, J. (2008) X chromosome: X inactivation. Nature Education, 1(1):24