![]() ![]() We used CRISPR to introduce breaks into the Y chromosome DNA of white blood cells in mice, destroying and eliminating the Y chromosome. However, we took advantage of these repeat sequences by targeting them with the DNA-editing tool CRISPR. Historically, the Y chromosome has been difficult to study because much of its genetic material is repetitive - it’s easy to get “lost” trying to decipher the sequence. My colleagues and I wanted to figure out if Y chromosome loss directly causes disease and, if so, how. However, it has been unknown whether this loss is just another benign indicator of aging, like gray hair or skin wrinkles, or whether it has a direct role in promoting disease. Y chromosome loss has since been linked to several age-related diseases, such as cancer and Alzheimer’s. While the loss of the Y chromosome was first observed in 1963, it was not until 2014 that researchers found an association between a loss of the Y chromosome and a shorter life span. And many people with Y chromosomes start to lose them in a fraction of the cells in their body as they age. While most women have two X chromosomes, most men have one X and one Y. ![]() The Y chromosome can be lost through the process of aging, and this can lead to an increased risk of heart failure and cardiovascular disease, according to a recent study my colleagues and I published in the journal Science. ![]()
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