We have used polymorphisms within the Xp/Yp pseudoautosomal region (PAR 1)
to determine the frequency and location of recombination in 80 paternally d
erived 47, XXY males. Of 64 informative results, there were 10 single cross
-overs, one double cross-over and 53 without a cross-over. Therefore 2/3 of
47, XXY males of paternal origin result from meiosis in which the X and Y
chromosomes fail to recombine. This failure was not associated with the pre
sence of an increase in recombination in the smaller Xq/Yq pseudoautosomal
region (PAR 2) or with the presence of microdeletions within PAR 1.