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Significance of Sex Chromosome Derived Heterochromatin in Mammals

Abstract

One mammalian X chromosome in females and the Y chromosome in males are heterochromatic, and they seem to carry “controlling centers” which affect both sex determination and various somatic characters. The euchromatic X chromosome may carry the structural genes for testicular as well as ovarian determination, the former only functioning in the presence of a Y chromosome or suitable autosomal modifier.

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HAMERTON, J. Significance of Sex Chromosome Derived Heterochromatin in Mammals. Nature 219, 910–914 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/219910a0

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