Lights out for the X Chromosome

X Chromosome: X Inactivation by Janice Y. Ahn and J. T. Lee, Ph.D.

The biological processes of our bodies are intricate, thought-provoking, and downright interesting. Millions of involuntary mechanisms work within our bodies to make sure that we function properly.

Specifically, female mammals, including humans, inherit two X chromosomes, which determine their sex. However, complications can arise within a cell if two X chromosomes are both being actively transcribed. Transcription from both chromosomes can result in excess amounts of proteins that are coded for on X chromosomes. To prevent this excess from happening, one of the X chromosomes is deactivated. In their article “X Chromosome: X Inactivation”, Janice Y. Ahn and J. T. Lee explain how X chromosome inactivation occurs through the organization of the article and the facts they present.

The organization of the article allows for the audience to understand the information clearly. The authors cleverly organized the article in a way that made sense. They used different subtitles to provide insight as to what the focus of the next paragraph is. Each paragraph then builds upon each other. The order of the paragraphs matter. The reader cannot understand that a TSIX as the “antisense” of XIST unless he first understands that a XIST is the first factor in the deactivation of an X chromosome. Also, the inclusion of the subtitles “Imprinted X Inactivation” and “Random X Inactivation” give the reader a clear understanding that there are two different types of X chromosome inactivation.

The facts presented in the article give the reader necessary information for comprehension and help to establish the authors’ ethos. Cold, hard facts are often times the best way to explain a complicated process. The facts given in this article such as “XIST RNA is both necessary and sufficient for inactivation” give the reader the players in the deactivation. The accurate explanations allow the reader to picture what happens in the cell in order to deactivate an X chromosome. Also, especially when reading scientific articles, it reassures to the audience to know that thorough study and research has happened to confirm that the information being shared is true. The authors included citations to reinforce validity of the facts and to supplement that automatic ethos they already have, both of them working at Harvard Medical School.

Organization and facts let this essay clearly explain how X chromosome inactivation occurs. So much as been discovered about the processes that take place in our bodies, yet there is still so much to learn. With articles that explain processes that we already know, we can continue to question, discover, and explore more.