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Autoradiographic studies of the human Y chromosome

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Abstract

An autoradiographic analysis (using continuous labeling with tritiated thymidine) was made on 317 cells from four normal males. The labeling pattern of the Y chromosome was compared to the first and the last chromosomes to complete replication as well as to G21–22. The Y chromosome was never found to be the last chromosome in the cell to complete replication. Instead, it completed DNA synthesis relatively early (usually among the first 10 chromosomes) but had a distinctively heavy label during the earliest stages of late-S. In 51% of those cells with one labeled G+Y chromosome, a G21–22 was labeled and the Y was not.—It was concluded, therefore, that the human Y chromosome is not a “late-replicating” chromosome but terminates replication earlier than most of the autosomes. In addition, the Y chromosome cannot be distinguished from the G chromosomes on the basis of a consistent and differential labeling pattern.

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Supported by USPHS Grant GM 15361.

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Craig, A.P., Shaw, M.W. Autoradiographic studies of the human Y chromosome. Chromosoma 32, 364–377 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00285250

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00285250

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