Males And Females Do Have One Chromosomal Similarity

A new study has confirmed that males and females have at least 1 thing in common - both sexes up-regulate X-chromosome gene expression.

The finding by a group of scientists including UNC biologist Jason Lieb, PhD, supports a longstanding hypothesis that explains how males can survive with only one copy of the X chromosome.

Gene Responsible for Relapses in Young Leukemia Patients Identified
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients with a particular form of the ATF5 gene are at higher risk of having a relapse when treated with E. coli asparaginase, a key chemotherapy drug.

"The issue is important because many diseases are tied to a defect in a regulatory mechanism within the cell," said Lieb, who is also a member of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Centre.

Women have two X chromosomes, while men have one X and one Y.

The lack of a 'back up' copy of the X chromosome in males contributes to many disorders that have long been observed to occur more often in males, such as hemophilia, Duchene muscular dystrophy, and certain types of colour blindness.

Gene Mutations to Predict Risk of Polycystic Kidney
The most common kidney disease passed down through families, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) affects one in 400 to

Biologists have been debating how organisms and cells manage the imbalance between X and other chromosomes for years, with the dominant theory being that both sexes up-regulate the expression of X-linked genes, essentially doubling their expression to '2X' in males and '4X' in females.

Then, to correct the imbalance that now appears in females, they then 'turn off' one of the hyperactive X chromosomes, resulting in a balanced '2X' expression of those genes across both sexes.

Genetic Difference in Staph Infects Some Heart Devices: Research
New research explains how and why certain strains of Staphylococcus aureus have infected thousands of implanted cardiac devices.

Lieb and his colleagues re-analysed data used in previous analyses, along with new data from humans, mice, roundworms, and fruit flies and found more evidence that the up-regulation hypothesis is correct - but with some interesting twists across species.

In mammals - humans and mice - both males and females up-regulate X-chromosome gene expression and females then equalize expression by turning off the one X chromosome.

Drug Trials Result Challenged - Possible Side Effect in Macular Degeneration Drug
Two major drug trials found little risk from a drug aimed at age-related macular degeneration, a Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist probes.

The study has been just published in the journal Nature Genetics.

Source-ANI