The Y chromosome is famous to look for the male intercourse. What exactly is less well known: frequently 90 per cent regarding the Y chromosome is made of junk DNA that outcompetes elements that are functional. Inside the ERC project, biologist Qi Zhou investigates just how it survived selection that is natural what impact it could have regarding the genome.
“The XY chromosomes mark the main hereditary differences when considering male and female”, describes Qi Zhou. “In animals, the Y chromosome determines the male intercourse.” The biologist happens to be sex that is studying their whole job, but you can still find many puzzling concerns that modern research cannot provide responses for – at the least perhaps maybe not yet.
Learning fresh fresh fresh fruit flies
Zhou examines Drosophila, better referred to as fresh good fresh fruit flies. Drosophila and people share the XY system, although the Drosophila’s Y chromosome is significantly younger. ” Our peoples Y chromosome is about 180 million years of age. The machine that we make use of – Drosophila Miranda – is just one million yrs old, therefore I still find traces to study”, describes the ERC grantee through the University of Vienna.
Human Genome Venture
We have to go back to the 1990s: An international board of over 50 scientists from all over the world collaborated on the Human Genome Project if we are to understand what makes the Y chromosome so special. The goal of the task would be to figure out the series of nucleotide base pairs that form the human being DNA. ” when you look at the biological globe it can be simply in comparison to Apollo 13″, smiles Zhou. In the past, the scientists discovered many alleged repeated elements besides the genes that are functional. “These elements usually do not encode any genes. Worse: they outcompete other practical elements often by way of a quicker propagation rate within the genome”, claims Zhou.
just What stays is junk DNA
It ended up that particularly the Y chromosome is filled with these repeated elements. This content that is repetitive are as long as 90 per cent. “The chromosome that determines our intercourse is simply a garbage can for repetitive DNA”, states Zhou. The junk elements have already been examined a whole lot, as an example, in Richard Dawkins’ book “The selfish gene”. But, it’s still unclear why these “selfish” junk elements from the intercourse chromosome occur nor the way they are controlled of course they will have a direct effect from the remaining portion of the genome.
“something that exists may have – more or less – undergone natural selection”, explains Zhou today. But, the biologist that is young a hypothesis on what the repetitive elements survived: “Each set of chromosomes can exchange their genetic product. The result of this recombination will be efficiently eliminate bad mutations. When it comes to XY chromosomes, recombination is power down since the male-determining gene really should not be recombined on the X chromosome — then the feminine will carry the gene that is male-determining. As soon as this is accomplished, the Y chromosome begins to accumulate its mutations that are deleterious exactly what we now identify as obvious junk.” Today’s technology of genetics
In the research, Zhou uses gene sequencing. Cutting-edge devices – as provided by the Vienna Biocenter – can read as much as 50,000 base pairs per run, enabling Zhou and their peers to acquire alot more complete info on the genomes in a limited time. He additionally sequences the tiny RNA – a defence system against junk elements – to learn the way the Y chromosome is controlled. Last but most certainly not least, he could be additionally planning to make use of the modifying device CRISPR-Cas9: “we should eliminate the guardians of those junk DNAs through the evolving Y chromosome. Whenever we can observe modifications, it can signify junk DNA impacts all of those other genome also. This could be a groundbreaking breakthrough, since we mostly consider the Y chromosome as just a male determinant.”
From China to Austria “Right now we have been obtaining the sequence that is entire of Y chromosome. After that we shall begin to gather the little RNA”, explains Zhou, whom found the Department of Molecular Evolution and developing only one 12 months ago. “The ERC Grant started a gate for me personally to accomplish research in Europe”, states the grantee that is 36-year-old. just exactly What he appreciates many during the University of Vienna may be the environment that is intelligent the strong help for preliminary research: “My scientific studies are entirely curiosity-driven. For instance, i am going to not be in a position to establish medication to deal with cancer tumors, but used research and preliminary research have actually been benefiting one another all the time.”
ERC Grants in the University of Vienna The funding of pioneering research is one of many priorities of this eu. The European Research Council (ERC) has been established to this end. Studies need a top prospect of innovation to get monetary help. Since 2007, 41 ERC funds have been conferred on researchers for the University of Vienna: 14 Advanced Grants, 5 Consolidator Grants, 21 Starting Grants plus one evidence of Concept.
Problems to fix
Zhou nevertheless holds a posture at Zhejiang University in Asia and travels to and fro usually. He enjoys the art scene and cultural life of Vienna, goes hiking or drinks coffee in the seventh district, where he lives when he is not busy working. “When i will be old, i will imagine being among the people that are elderly papers in a Viennese cafe from day to night long”, smiles Zhou. ” not now.” The young biologist nevertheless has many issues to fix. (hm)
Qi Zhou, PhD, is really a known user for the Faculty of Life Sciences associated with University of Vienna. Their project “Evolution and Impact of Heterochromatin on A young drosophila y chromosome” is funded by the European Research Council (ERC) and operates from examine this link right now August 2016 to August 2021.
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