The Y chromosome is well known to look for the male intercourse. What’s less distinguished: often 90 per cent regarding the Y chromosome is composed of junk DNA that outcompetes elements that are functional. In the ERC task, biologist Qi Zhou investigates just just how it survived normal selection and what effect it might have in 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 is sex that is studying their whole profession, but you may still find numerous puzzling questions that modern research cannot provide answers for – at the very least perhaps maybe not yet.
Learning good fresh fresh fresh fruit flies
Zhou examines Drosophila, better referred to as fresh fruit flies. Drosophila and people share the XY system, although the Drosophila’s Y chromosome is a lot younger. ” Our Y that is human chromosome about 180 million yrs . old. The device that we make use of – Drosophila Miranda – is one million years of age, 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 easily be when compared with Apollo 13″, smiles Zhou. In those days, the scientists found numerous alleged repeated elements besides the genes that are functional. “These elements usually do not encode any genes. Even worse: they outcompete other elements that are functional with a faster propagation rate within the genome”, says Zhou.
Just exactly What stays is junk DNA
It ended up that particularly the Y chromosome is filled with these elements that are repetitive. 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 are examined a great deal, by way of example, in Richard Dawkins’ book “The selfish gene”. But, it is still not yet determined why these “selfish” junk elements in the intercourse chromosome occur nor the way they are controlled and when they usually have a visible impact regarding 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 theory how the repetitive elements survived: “Each set of chromosomes can trade their genetic product. The result of this recombination will be efficiently eliminate bad mutations. When it comes to XY chromosomes, recombination is turn off since the male-determining gene really should not be recombined on the X chromosome — then the feminine will carry the male-determining gene. As soon as this is accomplished, the Y chromosome begins to accumulate its deleterious mutations – exactly what we now identify as obvious junk.” Modern tools of genetics
In the research, Zhou utilizes gene sequencing. Cutting-edge devices – as provided by the Vienna Biocenter – can read as much as 50,000 base pairs per run, allowing Zhou along with his colleagues to have even more complete info on the genomes in a time that is short. He additionally sequences the tiny RNA – a defence system against junk elements – to discover the way the Y chromosome is managed. Last but most certainly not least, he could be additionally planning to make use of the editing device CRISPR-Cas9: “we should remove the guardians of these junk DNAs through the evolving Y chromosome. It would mean that junk DNA affects the rest of check the site the genome as well if we can observe changes. This would be described as a groundbreaking finding, since we mostly think about the Y chromosome as just a male determinant.”
From Asia to Austria “Right now our company is having the sequence that is entire of Y chromosome. From then on we are going to begin to gather the tiny RNA”, explains Zhou, whom found the Department of Molecular Evolution and developing just one single 12 months ago. “The ERC Grant launched a gate in my situation to complete research in European countries”, states the grantee that is 36-year-old. just just What he appreciates many during the University of Vienna could be the intelligent environment and the strong help for research: “My scientific studies are totally curiosity-driven. For instance, i shall never ever be in a position to establish medication to deal with cancer tumors, but applied research and preliminary research have actually been benefiting one another on a regular basis.”
ERC Grants at the University of Vienna The funding of pioneering research that is basic one of many priorities regarding the eu. The European Research Council (ERC) has been established to this end. Studies will need to have a top possibility of innovation to receive 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.
Issues to fix
Zhou nevertheless holds a situation at Zhejiang University in Asia and travels to and fro usually. As he just isn’t busy working, he enjoys the art scene and social life of Vienna, goes climbing or drinks coffee within the 7th district, where he lives. “When i will be old, i could imagine being one of many people that are elderly papers in a Viennese cafe for hours long”, smiles Zhou. ” not now.” The biologist that is young has some dilemmas to resolve. (hm)
Qi Zhou, PhD, is really user of this Faculty of Life Sciences associated with University of Vienna. His task “Evolution and Impact of Heterochromatin on A young drosophila y chromosome” is funded by the European Research Council (ERC) and runs from August 2016 to August 2021.