It is possible for women to be born with a set of XY chromosomes. On the same token, men can be born with a set of XX chromosomes. Is it possible for these people to reproduce? If so, what would happen if a child were to be born with YY chromosomes?
Waa-hoo! I love these questions!
Simply, the Y chromosome has a gene on it that makes its carrier male. The only way to have a female with a Y is if that gene is mutated. Normally, XY, XXY, XXXY, are all male, with varying degrees of complications.
You could have an XX man if that gene was translocated onto an X chromosome, but that would be very very rare, as would be the above mutation. Though not impossible, of course.
YY people would die very early on in development. There are important genes on the X chromosome that everyone needs.
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A baby with normal XY chromosomes, but lacking either an enzyme to convert testosterone to 5-dihydroxytestosterone will have the outward appearance of a perfect female baby. During puberty, s/he will develop breasts, and a female shape, but not menstruate, because s/he does not have a uterus. S/he will be sterile, but able to have normal sex as a female. The testes are not fully developed, and even if surgery were done to create the outward appearance of a male, he would also be sterile. Furthermore, the testes are usually removed because of a high risk of cancer developing.
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A baby with XX chromosomes, but lacking enzymes needed in the adrenal glands to make cortisol and aldosterone can have so much stimulation of the adrenal glands that the adrenals glands produce enough androgens to cause the baby to have the outward appearance of a male, or intermediate male/female characteristics.
These are examples of what are called intersex disorders. they do not involve abnormalities of the X or Y chromosomes, but are due to other mutations which interfere with the normal development of a male or female fetus.
It is also (remotely) possible for an early cell division to go awry and cause a baby to be a hybrid with some cells XX, and some cells XY. In medical terms, this would be referred to as a mosaic. Which sex characteristics would dominate would depend not only on the realtive numbers of XX vs XY cells, but where those cells were located.
but lacking either an enzyme to convert testosterone to 5-dihydroxytestosterone or the receptor for 5-DHT
bolded section omitted in earlier post
I know the Master’s handled this, but I can’t seem to find it using Search.
But, there are rumours that Jamie Lee Curtis is an XY female. Cecil discussed it and I believe debunked it.
Someone will hopefully find the link for me that I can’t get.