What is Klinefelters Syndrome (XXY)
In: Biology
When sex cells are forming, what happens is that all the DNA lines up in two neat little rows, does a little dance to “shuffle” DNA to make a unique profile, and then splits into two cells.
Half the chromosomes go into one cell, and half into the other. One cell is supposed to get one X, and the other will get an X or a Y depending on whether this is happening inside a man or a woman. These “half-cells” will meet with another “half-cell” during sex and create a brand new DNA profile.
Just like everything else in the body, this process can sometimes go wrong. For instance, when two X chromosomes are pulled into one sex gamete, and the other sex gamete is left “blank”.
The “blank” gamete can make an XO – Turner Syndrome – or a YO zygote. This will self-terminate. It can’t live. But the “XX” gamete can make an “XXY” zygote or an XXX zygote. These are viable.
Klinefelter’s Syndrome is the XXY option. Triple-X syndrome is usually symptomless, but XXY has symptoms. The people who have the condition usually identify as male, but have some female physical characteristics. This can be quite difficult, as you might imagine.
Latest Answers