For half a century, many men have lost their Y chromosome as they age, but many did not think it was of much importance. At the time, scientists believed that the loss of a Y chromosome could be a sign of aging, like gray hair. However, a study using male mice genetically engineered to lose their Y chromosomes shows that when the Y chromosome is gone from the blood cells in those mice, scar tissue builds up in the heart leading to heart failure and a shortened life.
Because of this study, researchers have documented an increased risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer relating to the loss of the Y chromosome in human males. A genetic study of the British population revealed that the loss of a Y chromosome could even account for the difference between the life spans of men and women, the author of the study says.
Lars Forsberg, a researcher at Uppsala University, came up with the inspiration for the study when he ran into a former Uppsala professor on a bus in 2013. As they began chatting, the professor told Dr. Forsberg that the relationship between Y chromosomes and fruit flies was more critical than previously appreciated.
This revelation made Dr. Forsberg wonder about the implications regarding the loss of Y chromosomes. Males have one X and one Y, and nearly all genes used by male cells are genes on the X. Forsberg had always viewed the Y chromosome as a genetic wasteland.
Still curious about what the professor had proposed, Forsberg went to his computer and looked at the data of 1153 men in a large Swedish study. “I had the data in a few hours, and I was like, ‘Wow,’” Dr. Forsberg said. “I saw that men with loss of Y in a large proportion of their blood cells survived only half as long, 5.5 years versus 11.1 years.”
“You can imagine my surprise,” he said. “Of course, I redid everything. It is still too soon to know what to do other than to stop smoking, to protect themselves from losing their Y chromosome.
As Y Chromosomes Vanish With Age, Heart Risks May Grow.
Links:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/14/health/y-chromosome-heart-failure.html
As-Y-Chromosomes-Vanish-With-Age-Heart-Risks-May-Grow-The-New-York-Times
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Because of this study, researchers have documented an increased risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer relating to the loss of the Y chromosome in human males. A genetic study of the British population revealed that the loss of a Y chromosome could even account for the difference between the life spans of men and women, the author of the study says.
Lars Forsberg, a researcher at Uppsala University, came up with the inspiration for the study when he ran into a former Uppsala professor on a bus in 2013. As they began chatting, the professor told Dr. Forsberg that the relationship between Y chromosomes and fruit flies was more critical than previously appreciated.
This revelation made Dr. Forsberg wonder about the implications regarding the loss of Y chromosomes. Males have one X and one Y, and nearly all genes used by male cells are genes on the X. Forsberg had always viewed the Y chromosome as a genetic wasteland.
Still curious about what the professor had proposed, Forsberg went to his computer and looked at the data of 1153 men in a large Swedish study. “I had the data in a few hours, and I was like, ‘Wow,’” Dr. Forsberg said. “I saw that men with loss of Y in a large proportion of their blood cells survived only half as long, 5.5 years versus 11.1 years.”
“You can imagine my surprise,” he said. “Of course, I redid everything. It is still too soon to know what to do other than to stop smoking, to protect themselves from losing their Y chromosome.
As Y Chromosomes Vanish With Age, Heart Risks May Grow.
Links:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/14/health/y-chromosome-heart-failure.html
As-Y-Chromosomes-Vanish-With-Age-Heart-Risks-May-Grow-The-New-York-Times
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