The X-Y homologous gene amelogenin maps to the short arms of both the X and Y chromosomes and is highly conserved in primates

The localization of amelogenin to Yq remains controversial as there are reports that suggest that the Y homologue is located on Yp. To resolve this question, we have examined the map location of X- and Y-linked amelogenin sequences by analysis of a series of somatic cell hybrids carrying deleted X chromosomes and a panel of individuals possessing aberrant Y chromosomes. We have carried out this analysis by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and two primers (AMELF and AMELR) we designed from the X and Y sequences published by Nakahori et al. Two primers (identical in sequence on the X and Y) that span the first intron result in different sized X (542 bp) and Y (358 bp) fragments because of differences in the sizes of the introns on the X and Y.