So, say I get a set of chromosomes from my Mum which contains the X chromosome and the same from my Dad, but with the Y chromosome. I now have two sets of the same 22 chromosomes, plus an X and a Y.

For chromosome number one for example, is everything from my Dad’s side activated? My Mum’s? Or is is a random selection of genes within each chromosome?

And does the X chromosome do anything for me, or is it turned off, and only used if I pass it on to the next generation?

Follow up question: I believe that women actually recombine their X chromosomes when passing these on, but men can’t recombine X and Y. So everything on your Dad’s side stays the same. Does this have any impact? For example are you more likely to inherit genetic defects from your Dad’s side?

  • A_A@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    edit-2
    4 months ago

    Some genes are lethal let’s call them :
    “T” bad version and
    “t” for the version that lets you live.

    if one of those genes is on the xx // xy chromosomes then if you are XX female you will get one combination in this set of combinations : Tt, tT, TT, tt
    if you get TT, you are dead.
    if you get tt, you live,
    if you get Tt or tT you have 3 possible outcomes :
    if T is dominant you are dead,
    if t is dominant you live,
    if T and t are co_dominant you might be sick.

    if you are XY male, you have either a “T” (dead) or a “t” (alive).