Smoking linked to loss of Y chromosome in males

Published: 5 December 2014

Source:  Medical news

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/286474.php

Scientific field:  biology and health

Summary:

Smoking is widely recognized as one of the biggest risk factors for cancer. A new study has now demonstrated that smoking is associated with  the loss of the Y chromosome in blood cells, potentially explaining why smoking is more of a risk factor for cancer  among men.

Glossary:

-widely (ampliamente): having a specified extent

- span (periodo de tiempo): period of time

-whereas(mientras):  while on the contrary

Critical appraisal:

Men only have the Y chromosome, which "may explain why men in general have a shorter life span than women, and why smoking is more dangerous for men".

Researchers That Have Already shown male smokers are more likely to Develop cancer than women. One theory is that Y chromosome loss could impair the capacity of white blood cells to fight cancerous cells.

Most people have 46 chromosomes in their cells, and two of these are sex chromosomes. Females have two X chromosomes, whereas males have one X and one Y. It is believed that the Y chromosome contains around 50-60 genes that provide the body with instructions for creating protein.

Written by Lidia Figueras