Advances in Y chromosome mapping

The human Y chromosome has long been recognized as being responsible for se x determination. In fact, it also encodes more than 30 genes and gene famil ies that participate in a variety of cellular functions, including bone dev elopment, tooth growth, and spermatogenesis. De-novo deletion of Y chromoso me segments that contain spermatogenesis genes occurs frequently, resulting in low sperm production and male infertility. This article reviews our cur rent knowledge of the structure and function of the Y chromosome is reviewe d. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.