在一個用小鼠所做的研究中,，Yasuhiro Yamauchi及其同事證明,，只需要2個Y染色體基因就能夠產生一個不成熟的精子細胞,，它可成功地使卵子受精并產生可存活后代,。
這些小鼠是通過一種將其直接注射到卵細胞內的輔助生殖技術而受孕的，而其成功受精的比率是低下的,。這2個基因——Sry和Eif2s3y可分別在哺乳動物中指示性器官變成雄性及驅動精子細胞的增殖,。
盡管文章的作者謹慎地提出,，該研究對人類生育沒有任何直接的意義,，但它可能對需要有不同的基因來維持正常的精子功能有所闡釋。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦的英文摘要
Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1242544
Two Y Genes Can replace the Entire Y Chromosome for Assisted Reproduction in the Mouse
Yasuhiro Yamauchi,， Jonathan M. Riel， Zoia Stoytcheva,， Monika A. Ward*
The Y chromosome is thought to be important for male reproduction. We have previously shown that,， with the use of assisted reproduction， live offspring can be obtained from mice lacking the entire Y chromosome long arm. Here,， we demonstrate that live mouse progeny can also be generated by using germ cells from males with the Y chromosome contribution limited to only two genes,， the testis determinant factor Sry and the spermatogonial proliferation factor Eif2s3y. Sry is believed to function primarily in sex determination during fetal life. Eif2s3y may be the only Y chromosome gene required to drive mouse spermatogenesis， allowing formation of haploid germ cells that are functional in assisted reproduction. Our findings are relevant,， but not directly translatable,， to human male infertility cases.
