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X Chromosomes by insanejoker
So, I really REALLY love genetics. I had considered going into it before deciding on art.
This is really interesting. X chromosomes are more active in different organs, sides of the brain, etc. in one person, and some are entirely shut down. Females have a higher chance of having a bunch of dead X chromosome clumps in their body (I find this humorous to me don't ask). When they studied mice, one eye had chromosome patterns / activity as its mother, and the other eye was like its father. So, both eyes had a completely genetic difference. I think that's neat :D
More studying said that even entire organs were like this. SUPER AWESOME STUFF. You should read this :)
Side note: Genetics to me is important because it explains why our bodies are made the way they are, they explain genetic mutation which happens in every living being on this planet and how it effects us, whether we're aware of it or not, and it explains the evil word 'evolution' (I say it's evil, because that's how a majority of people seem to see it).
X Chromosomes
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Yes, and that was mentioned in the beginning of the study. :) It explains why females would have just clumps of dead X chromosomes as there were more present, but the study wasn't just about that.
I'm rereading it now to see if I can clarify it better, but this quote would explain it easily:"In the journal Neuron, a team of scientists has unveiled an unprecedented view of X-chromosome inactivation in the body. They found a remarkable complexity to the pattern in which the chromosomes were switched on and off."
So its the inactivation they studied more, not the amount of them. Hence the left eye being of one parents X chromosomes inactive while the right eye had the other parents chromosomes inactive. The questions that were arising were 'why are some of them inactive and others not, and how does it choose between the mother's and father's?' Particularly in females more are inactive so they want to know how its happening more often in them, etc. All the fancy things. :D
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Let me see if I got this... the chromosomes in the eyes are 50% father and 50% mother. However only half the chromosomes are active?
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For one of the mice, yes. So one eye only had the mother's X chromosome active, and the other eye just the fathers. And they're not sure why only half of the X chromosomes are active. :( They just know that IF the inactive ones become active they are related to causing cancer and the like. So the fact they can at least see them separated now is an achievement :D Now they have to dig deeper into how the inactive ones interact with the rest of the body and so one so forth. Probably starting with fetal development as that's when it all happens.
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Fascinating
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BumbleBee Pariah
Wouldn't females have more dead X chromosomes since they have essentially twice as many as males?