X Inactivation

The podcast discusses X inactivation, also known as lyonization, named after Mary Lyon. It explains why calico and tortoiseshell cats are mostly female due to X inactivation, where one X chromosome in females becomes inactive, forming a Barr body. The process is described from the zygote stage, highlighting the randomness of which X chromosome is inactivated. The genetic basis of cat coloration, including epistasis, is explored. The podcast also touches on rare occurrences of X inactivation in humans, such as Klinefelter syndrome and disorders affecting sweat glands.

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