Pseudoautosomal region

The pseudoautosomal regions or PARs are homologous sequences of nucleotides found within the sex chromosomes of species with an XY or ZW mechanism of sex determination.

The pseudoautosomal regions get their name because any genes within them (so far at least 29 have been found for humans) are inherited just like any autosomal genes. In humans, these regions are referred to as PAR1 and PAR2. PAR1 comprises 2.6 Mbp of the short-arm tips of both X and Y chromosomes in humans and great apes (X and Y are 154 Mbp and 62 Mbp in total). PAR2 is at the tips of the long arms, spanning 320 kbp. The monotremes, including the platypus and echidna, have a multiple sex chromosome system, and consequently have 8 pseudoautosomal regions.

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