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Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2001-01 > 0979184004


From:
Subject: Re: [DNA] Stupid Question
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001 22:33:24 EST


In a message dated 1/10/2001 7:28:55 AM Pacific Standard Time,
writes:

> I am a newcomer on this list. So please forgive me, if my question sounds
> stupid.
> I found out, and possibly it´s only occasionally, that within my family
> sometimes
> even very far relatives have a certain similarity. As all of them are
> porters of
> the same name, I am wondering, if there is a possibility, that the male Y
> chromosom is responsible for this effect. Am I totally wrong or has anybody
> made
>



It's an INTERESTING question! But I would tend to doubt that it would be a
gene on the Y chromosome, just on the basis of probability. The Y chromosome
is very small, and most of the DNA is "junk" that doesn't even code for
anything. I just checked the genome map, and only 21 genes have been
discovered so far. Most of the names of the genes are pretty cryptic, but the
names that sound half-way understandable seem to be related to male functions
such as sperm production.

There could still be a gene (or combination of genes) on other chromosomes
which are expressed more strongly in males, such as baldness.

I've also wondered if it would be practical to start a database of quirks or
traits which are clearly inherited in your family, but rare in the general
population. For example, I kept four of my "baby" teeth, as did my mother and
my son. But if I encountered another person with the same trait, I suppose it
could be caused by a mutation in a completely gene, so maybe outward traits
wouldn't be too useful. Interesting to think about, though!

Here are a couple of links to background information:

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/tcga/ScienceSpectra-pages/SciSpect-14-98.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/Entrez/maps.cgi?org=hum&chr=Y

Ann Turner

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