Extensive sequence homologies between Y and other human chromosomes

Twenty-six human Y-chromosome-derived DNA sequences, free of repetitive material, were used to probe male and female genomic blots. We present data from a detailed analysis and chromosomal location of the bands detected by such probes, which demonstrate extensive DNA sequence homology between the mammalian sex chromosomes and autosomes. Under stringent conditions, nine Y-derived probes reacted exclusively with the Y chromosome, 12 probes detected homologous sequences present on both the Y and the X, four probes detected homologies between Y and autosome(s) without any X counterpart and, finally, one probe hybridized to homologous sequences on Y, X and autosome(s). These data are consistent with the hypothesis of a common evolutionary origin for the mammalian sex chromosomes and reveal structural similarities between Y-located and autosomal non-repetitive sequences.