Some Morphological Aspects of the Abnormal Human Y Chromosome

Abstract

On the basis of data derived from 23 individuals with abnormal Y chromosome as well as from 11 controls with the regular Y, the variation in size of the human Y chromosome was reported in a form of summary in this article. The present results indicate that the Y/F value is of some value for the evaluation of the variability in length of the Y chromosome; the Y/F index was 0.87 in the most common Y, while it exceeded 1.00 in cases with the extra long Y. Particular concern is focused upon the relation of the abnormal Y to disease states, the effect of the irregular Y on phenotype, the masculinizing effect of the Y, the localization of the masculinizing factor (or factors), and the role of the Y in sexual development in man.