Y染色体是最短的近端着丝粒染色体,是男性特有的染色体。1976年,研究发现Y染色体长臂上存在与精子发生相关的基因,人们把这一区域称作无精子因子,亦称AZF区,从而改变了传统观念对Y染色体功能单一的认识,开创了Y染色体功能研究新领域。1996年将AZF区划分为3个区:AZFa、AZFb、AZF Y chromosome is the shortest centromeric chromosome, is a male-specific chromosome. In 1976, the study found that there are genes associated with spermatogenesis on the long arm of the Y chromosome. This region is called the azoospermia, also known as the AZF region, thus changing the traditional concept of a single understanding of Y chromosome function, creating a Y Chromosome function research new field. AZF was divided into three districts in 1996: AZFa, AZFb, AZF