Men Could Be Facing Extinction.

An Australian scientist claims that men could face extinction within ten million years.

Professor Jenny Graves, of Australian National University, believes two different species of human could emerge.

The scientist claims an important aspect of male genetic make-up is under threat, reports The Scotsman.

Graves, speaking at the 15th International Chromosome Conference at Brunel University, predicted the mammalian Y chromosome would eventually lose its 45 genes, including the SRY gene that releases male hormones.

The chromosome started life 300 million years ago with 1,438 genes, and has already lost 1,393.

Her research, which involved rodents lacking the SRY gene, found that another chromosome took over the task of harbouring a gene which determines sex.

Graves claims that if the same was to happen with people, it could lead to two or more sex determination systems, resulting in two different human species

However, Dr Filatov, of Birmingham University, argued that the Y chromosome would stop breaking down, and that extinction was unlikely.