Y Chromosome Shrinking: Is A World Without Men Possible?

The scientific study says the Y chromosome has been gradually shrinking over millions of years. This research has raised alarming questions about the future of the male-determining Y chromosome and how will be world work without men.

According to studies, the size of the male-determining Y chromosome gradually decreases leading to concerns about whether it could eventually disappear entirely.

How Chromosomes Work In Humans?

Biological sex in humans is determined by a combination of chromosomes, gonads, and genitalia. Typically, females have two X chromosomes (XX), while males have one X and one Y chromosome (XY).

Y Chromosomes Shrinking:

However, research reveals that the Y chromosome has been losing its genetic material at a steady pace. Over the past 166 million years, it has lost between 900 and 55 active genes. This necessarily does not put the men's community in danger and also scientists expect the human body as well evolve to the change accordingly.

According to Professor Jenny Graves, a leading expert in genetics, if this trend continues, the Y chromosome could vanish within approximately 11 million years.

This potential disappearance of the Y chromosome raises significant questions about the future of human reproduction. If the Y chromosome were to become extinct, it could result in profound changes to the reproductive system. 

Assumptions:

One possibility is the emergence of new sex-determining mechanisms or multiple gender systems across different populations. Such changes might lead to the development of new biological sexes or even the formation of an entirely new human species.

Professor Graves warns that these evolutionary shifts could trigger a "war of the sex genes," with potential risks and uncertainties about how human reproduction and species development might evolve. The implications of such changes are complex and largely unknown. Also, scientists can only predict the future but cannot confirm this will happen after 10 million years.

In this case, there are even some species that already faced the Y chromosome shrinking problem like the mole voles from Eastern Europe and the spiny rats from Japan. Yet the two species have managed to thrive despite having lost their Y chromosome. In these species, both males and females still possess the X chromosome, but the Y chromosome and the SRY gene are absent.