Originally posted by: Prasanna_dhanu
Yes, very thought provoking, I recently saw an article on why women are named after fathers and husbands, it was to do with the uniqueness of the "Y" chromosome and hence the Gothra, it was FB, check if you have time
genetics behind gotra systems. ...
The word GOTRA formed from two sanskrit words GAU (means cow) and Trahi (means shed). Gotra means cowshed.
Gotra is like cowshed protecting a particular male lineage. We identify our male lineage / gotra by considering to be descendants of the 8 great rishi (sapta rishi + bharadwaj rishi). All the other gotra evolved from these only.
Let's see why human body has 23 pairs of chromosomes (one from father and one from mother) on thes 23 pairs, there is one pair called sex chromosomes which decides the gender of person.
During conception if the resultant cell is XX chromosomes then the child will be girl, if it is XY then it is boy.
In XY - X is from mother and Y is from father.
In this Y is unique and it dosn't mix. So in XY, Y will supress the X and son will get Y chromosomes. Y is the only chromosome which gets passed down only between male lineage. (Father to Son and to Grandson).
Women never gets Y. Hence Y plays a crucial role in genetics in identifying the genealogy. Since women never get Y the gotra of a women is said to be of her husband.
They are 8 diff Y chromosomes from 8 rishis. If we are from Same gotra then it means we are from same root ancestor.
Marriages between same gotra will increase the risk of causing genetic disorders as same gotra Y chromosomes cannot have crossover and it will activate the defective cells.
If this continues, it will reduce the size and strength of Y chromosome which is crucial for the creation of male.
If no Y chromosome is present in this world, then it will cause males to become extinct.
So Gotra system is a method to avoid genetic disorders and attempt to protect Y chromosome.