In mammals, individuals with two X chromosomes are female, and individuals with

Question

In mammals, individuals with two X chromosomes are female, and individuals with an X and a Y chromosome are male. It had long been known that a gene located on the Y chromosome was sufficient to induce the gonads to form testes, which is the main male-determining factor in development, and researchers sought the product of this gene, the so-called testes-determining factor (TDF). For several years, the TDF was incorrectly thought to be a zinc finger protein encoded by a gene called BoY. Which of the following observations would most strongly suggest that BoY might not be the TDF? Explain your answer

(a) Some XY individuals that develop into females have mutations in a different gene, SRY, but are normal at BoY.

(b) BoY is not expressed in the adult male testes.

(c) Expression of BoY in adult females does not masculinize them.

(d) A few of the genes that are known to be expressed only in the testes have binding sites for the

BoY protein in their upstream regulatory sequences, but most do not.

Explanation / Answer

The correct answer is option A that is some XY individuals that develop into females have mutations in a different gene, SRY but are normal at BOY.

This is the correct answer because when the scientists studied the XY female individuals, they would have found the mutation in BOY gene as it was TSD but it was found normal and the mutation was found in SRY gene and this finding strongly suggest that BOY is not a TDF.

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