It may surprise you to learn that — like humans — cells can be male or female. The distinction is more subtle at the cellular level, but it can actually affect how cells react in a variety of experiments.
Cells in women’s bodies have two X chromosomes (XX), while cells in men’s bodies have one X and one Y (XY). Thus, we get our male and female cells. Approximately 5% of the human genome resides on these chromosomes — 1,846 genes on the X and 454 on the Y. This means that male and female cells are fundamentally dissimilar on a genetic level.
The scientists behind a new review study say that these differences are often ignored.
Read the full, original story here: Male or Female? Why a Cell’s Sex Matters
