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The extinction of men



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Hello and welcome to Six-Minute English from BBC Learning English, I'm Neil and with me today is Rosie.
Neil

Hi there.
Rosie

Well, today we're talking about men.
Neil

That sounds interesting.
Rosie

It is very interesting especially if you're a man because it seems we've had our existence extended.
Neil

I'm sorry?
Rosie

Well, some previous scientific research had suggested that the Y chromosome, which is responsible for men's sex organs and hormones, is rotting away!
Neil

Oh dear.Are you going to make it till the end of the programme, Neil?
RosieRosie

Ah yes – even the most pessimistic findings suggested that men had 100 thousand years left, so I think 6 minutes is ok!Before we get into this story though, I have a quiz question for you, Rosie.Are you ready?
NeilNeilNeil

Yes, I am.
Rosie

It's a simple question.What is the ratio of men to women in the world?Is it a) Equal – so 100 males to every 100 females. Is it b) 101 males to every 100 females. c) 100 males to every 105 females.
NeilNeilNeilNeilNeil

Well, I have absolutely no idea.So, I am going to guess and I am going to say c) 100 males to every 105 females.
RosieRosie

OK, we'll find out at the end of the programme.
Neil

So, tell me more about this new research into the possible extinction of men.
Rosie

Well it now seems that men can breathe a sigh of relief.Scientists compared the decline in the male human's Y chromosome – remember that'sthe thing that's responsible for deciding the sex of a child – with that of the rhesus monkey.
NeilNeil

OK. That's the monkey that we separated from 25 million years ago.
RosieRosie

That's right. And their conclusion was that the Y chromosome is depleted but it's still got all of the vital bits.
NeilNeil

Lucky you! Here's Jennifer Hughes from the Whitehead Institute in Cambridge Massachusetts. She was in charge of the research:I think that the odds of the Y losing any more genes are pretty slim. It appears that it'sbeen stable for 25 million years and that is a good indication that's it going to be stable for many many millions of years to come and the genes that remain on the Y probably have very important functions and therefore natural selection is doing a very good job ofpreserving those genes.
RosieRosieRosieRosie

She said the odds of the Y chromosome losing any more genes are pretty slim – meaning it's unlikely. Genes are the parts of cells which have the information which passes characteristics from a parent to a child.
RosieRosie

So it sounds like us males are safe for many millions of years to come.
Neil

She also added that natural selection is doing a very good job of preserving the genes.
Rosie

Natural selection is the way animals die when they are weak or living in unsuitable surroundings. Meanwhile the stronger ones continue to live. Let's have another listen to that interview with Jennifer Hughes, who's in ch

arge of the research:I think that the odds of the Y losing any more genes are pretty slim.It appears that it's been stable for 25 million years and that is a good indication that's it going to be stable for many many millions of years to come and the genes that remain on the Y probably have very important functions and therefore natural selection is doing a very good job of preserving those genes.
NeilNeilNeilNeil

Now here's an interesting fact, Rosie. Did you know that men's sex chromosomes are not as sophisticated as female ones?
NeilNeil

No I didn't know that, but it doesn't come as a surprise to me!
Rosie

I thought you might say that. But you know what – I'm happy having less sophisticated chromosomes if it means men continue to live for a little longer. Now there's only one way to end this programme, Rosie, and that is to imagine a world without men.
NeilNeilNeil

OK, well for a start more would get done.
Rosie

Are you suggesting that men are lazy?
Neil

Well, they can be. My boyfriend, for example, had never used a washing machine until he was 30 years old.
RosieRosie

Right, well we're getting into stereotypes here! So how about this one - if there were only women in the world, you'd never get into the bathroom.
NeilNeil

OK, I'll give you that one. I agree that women do spend longer in the bathroom than men.
RosieRosie

And who's going to catch spiders and mice for you?
Neil

Ah, now that is absolutely not true! My boyfriend is terrified of mice. In fact he ran away from one in the kitchen just last night.
RosieRosieRosie

Well, to be honest, I don't really like mice either, I must say. But what about lifting heavy things? I am always expected to do heavy lifting, which I hate by the way.
NeilNeilNeil

Yes I confess that men are useful for that. And also for opening jars with the lids too tightly screwed on. And on a more serious note, I think there would probably be far fewer wars if there were only women. I think women would be more likely to talk problems over than resort to violence.
RosieRosieRosieRosie

Well you might be right there but it's difficult to say because most of the world's leaders are men of course. OK Rosie, this entertaining debate must come to an end. We need an answer to the question.I asked what the ratio is of men to women in the world. Is it a) Equal – so for every 100 males there are 100 females.b) 101 males to every 100 females.c) 100 males to every 105 females.What did you say?
NeilNeilNeilNeilNeil

I said c) 100 males to every 105 females
Rosie

And you were completely wrong. It's 101 males to every 100 females. Do join us again for more 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. Bye for now!
NeilNeilNeilNeil

Bye bye!
Rosie








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