DW: OK, I still have time to erase my search history...
Scientists warn that men could eventually face extinction due to the steady deterioration of the Y chromosome, which plays a critical role in male reproduction and is primarily housed in the testicles. Unlike women, who have two X chromosomes, men possess an X and a Y chromosome, with the Y containing only about 45 genes compared to the X's 900. "For making sperm, a lot of cell divisions are needed, and each cell division is a chance for mutation," explained Australian geneticist Jenny Graves to "Science Focus." This vulnerability, coupled with the Y chromosome’s inability to repair itself due to its lack of a pair, has led it to lose 97% of its ancestral genes over millions of years.
Despite this concerning trend, Graves assures that extinction isn’t an immediate threat, estimating that it could take another six to seven million years for the Y chromosome to disappear entirely. She adds that other species, like certain rodents, have developed alternative sex-determining genes, suggesting that humans could adapt similarly over time. "It’s funny that people get so upset about the loss of the Y chromosome," Graves said, reminding us that evolution might yet offer a solution before men truly face extinction.
Source: DailyStar