Scientists discover new sex gene in spiny rats, offering hope for human Y chromosome survival
• The human Y chromosome is degenerating and may disappear in a few million years, leading to human extinction unless a new sex gene evolves.
• Two rodent lineages, mole voles and spiny rats, have already lost their Y chromosome and survived.
• A new study reveals that the spiny rat has evolved a new male-determining gene near the key sex gene SOX9.
• This discovery suggests that humans may also evolve a new sex-determining gene to replace the disappearing Y chromosome.
• However, the evolution of a new sex gene comes with risks, such as the potential separation of new human species.