Recently, researchers have discovered a method in which males could be made with two X chromosomes.Normally, males have a X and a Y chromosome and females have two X chromosomes, but Postdoctoral Research Officer Dr Edwina Sutton created male mice with two X chromosomes by activating a certain gene.
The Sox3 gene on the X chromosome is commonly known for the impact it has on development in the brain but apparently this is the first time it showed to have an effect on sexual development. Dr. Sutton made this brain gene active in the developing gonads of mice with two X chromosomes during the critical stage of development, which lead the gonads to develop male features rather than female features.
This finding was made by coincidence when Dr. Sutton and her supervisor were looking at the effects of the Sox3 gene, and found out that 80% of they're produced offspring were male, with two X chromosomes. Their appearance, reproductive structures, and behaviour are all that of male, but they appear to be sterile.
They point out that this finding is crucial for understanding the roles of genes and the process of sexual development, but it may also play an important role in finding out more about people with disorders in sexual development and in turn, finding a solution for this problem.
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Links: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070819213846.htm
http://web.rollins.edu/~jsiry/XChromosomeValue.html
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