A normal consequence of aging and cell division is the gradual loss of genetic material from the ends of chromosomes, known as telomeres. The process is referred to as telomere shortening and is associated with the negative effect of advancing age on general health. The shortening of telomeres with age is present in both sexes, but according to scientists, certain lifestyle factors may have a different impact on the intensity of the process in men and women. It has been found, for example, that in men who smoke regularly, the shortening of telomeres is more intense and at a certain point they may lose a large part of the genetic material locked in their Y-chromosome. Cases have been found in which the Y-chromosome is not detected at all in the nucleus of some body cells in male heavy smokers. A study conducted late last year associated the loss of the Y-chromosome in some of the body’s cells with an increased risk of cancer and a shorter life expectancy overall. Exactly this phenomenon is indicated by scientists as a possible explanation for the higher incidence of certain forms of cancer among men, especially among smokers. Two-thirds of the male-only structure of the Y-chromosome consists of repetitive genetic sequences that do not associate with any important genes. This is the reason why the Y-chromosome has until recently been considered solely as a factor determining the sex of the individual and having to do with the production of sperm and the inheritance of only a small number of important genes. NEWS_MORE_BOX A study from late last year, however, shows that the Y-chromosome contains very important nucleotide sequences passed from father to son. Recent data indicate that some of these sequences encode important organic compounds that suppress the development of tumors. The loss of these genes with age in male smokers may account for the increased risk of cancer among them. Thus, body cells, which have lost their Y-chromosome over the years, mutate more easily and may trigger the formation of a tumor formation. The study data was obtained after tracking blood samples from 6,000 men over the age of 60. Among smokers, the risk of losing the Y-chromosome in blood cells was found to be between 2 and 4 times higher than in non-smokers. The specific data suggest that in 60-year-old male smokers, a significant portion of the male chromosome may be lost in more than 10% of blood cells. The data from the study is cited as another reason to quit smoking and once again proves the mutagenic effect of toxins in cigarette smoke.