"Unveiling the Impact of Sex Chromosomes on Gene Expression Across the Body"
A study by David Page and Adrianna San Roman has shown that sex chromosomes, particularly through the gene pair ZFX and ZFY, have a significant regulatory effect on gene expression throughout the human body, not just in sexual differentiation. This challenges the traditional understanding of X and Y chromosomes, revealing their roles as global gene regulators. The research utilized natural variations in sex chromosome composition in humans to demonstrate how these chromosomes modulate the expression of thousands of genes across different cell types, potentially contributing to sex differences in health and disease. The findings suggest a reevaluation of the X and Y chromosomes' genetic impact, highlighting the importance of the 'inactive' X and 'gene-poor' Y chromosomes in gene regulation.