The word "holandric gene" is spelled with the phonetic transcription /hɒlændrɪk dʒiːn/. The first syllable is pronounced with the short o sound (/ɒ/), while the second syllable has the long a sound (/eɪ/). The "c" in "holandric" is pronounced like an "s" (/s/), and the "d" is silent. The word "gene" is pronounced with a soft g sound (/dʒ/), followed by the long e sound (/iː/). Together, this term refers to a gene located on the Y chromosome that is only passed down from a father to his sons.
A holandric gene refers to a specific category of genes that are exclusively transmitted from fathers to their sons. The term "holandric" is derived from the Latin word "homo" meaning "man" and "alos" referring to "other," indicating that these genes exist only in males and are absent in females.
Holandric genes are situated in the non-homologous region of the Y chromosome, which is responsible for determining male sex characteristics. This unique location on the Y chromosome restricts the inheritance of these genes to the male lineage, as it is only passed from fathers to sons. Consequently, these genes are not subject to recombination, a genetic process that usually exchanges genetic material between paired chromosomes during gamete formation.
Some common examples of holandric traits include male pattern baldness, which is inherited solely from the paternal side, and certain types of color blindness, such as red-green color blindness. Due to the strict paternal inheritance of holandric genes, females are merely carriers of these genes without expressing the associated traits themselves.
It is important to note that holandric traits are relatively rare compared to autosomal or sex-linked traits, as they are confined to the unpaired region of the Y chromosome. Therefore, the study of holandric genes proves invaluable when investigating the inheritance patterns and development of male-specific characteristics and diseases.
The word "holandric" is derived from the combination of the Greek words "holos" meaning "whole" or "entire", and "andros" meaning "male" or "man". The term "holandric gene" was coined to identify genes that are found exclusively on the non-recombining region of the Y chromosome, thus being inherited in a strictly male-specific manner. The prefix "holo-" indicates that these genes are present in their entirety on the Y chromosome, distinguishing them from genes that may exist on both sex chromosomes (X and Y) or autosomes.