It is small and houses relatively few genes. Therefore, the loss of the Y chromosome that most men carry within them is not a great danger when dividing a cell for survival. It even disappears relatively frequently with age, as experts have noted. But when researching the consequences, they are still at the beginning – and the phenomenon could help explain the shorter life expectancy of men. Three years ago, a study appeared that connected the Y-shrinkage with cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s and cancer (the standard reported). In a current research work in the journal Nature If a research team notes: If the Y chromosome is lost, the cancer can make it more aggressive.