Abstract
Sex is determined genetically in all birds, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. All species have a ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system characterised by female (ZW) heterogamety, but the chromosomes themselves can be heteromorphic (in most birds) or homomorphic (in the flightless ratites). Sex in birds might be determined by the dosage of a Z-linked gene (two in males, one in females) or by a dominant ovary-determining gene carried on the W sex chromosome, or both. Sex chromosome aneuploidy has not been conclusively documented in birds to differentiate between these possibilities. By definition, the sex chromosomes of birds must carry one or more sex-determining genes. In this review of avian sex determination, we ask what, when and where? What is the nature of the avian sex determinant? When should it be expressed in the developing embryo, and where is it expressed? The last two questions arise due to evidence suggesting that sex-determining genes in birds might be operating prior to overt sexual differentiation of the gonads into testes or ovaries, and in tissues other than the urogenital system.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 165-173 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Cytogenetic and Genome Research |
| Volume | 117 |
| Issue number | 1-4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Cite this
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Avian sex determination : What, when and where? / Smith, C. A.; Roeszler, K. N.; Hudson, Q. J.; Sinclair, A. H.
In: Cytogenetic and Genome Research, Vol. 117, No. 1-4, 01.07.2007, p. 165-173.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Avian sex determination
T2 - What, when and where?
AU - Smith, C. A.
AU - Roeszler, K. N.
AU - Hudson, Q. J.
AU - Sinclair, A. H.
PY - 2007/7/1
Y1 - 2007/7/1
N2 - Sex is determined genetically in all birds, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. All species have a ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system characterised by female (ZW) heterogamety, but the chromosomes themselves can be heteromorphic (in most birds) or homomorphic (in the flightless ratites). Sex in birds might be determined by the dosage of a Z-linked gene (two in males, one in females) or by a dominant ovary-determining gene carried on the W sex chromosome, or both. Sex chromosome aneuploidy has not been conclusively documented in birds to differentiate between these possibilities. By definition, the sex chromosomes of birds must carry one or more sex-determining genes. In this review of avian sex determination, we ask what, when and where? What is the nature of the avian sex determinant? When should it be expressed in the developing embryo, and where is it expressed? The last two questions arise due to evidence suggesting that sex-determining genes in birds might be operating prior to overt sexual differentiation of the gonads into testes or ovaries, and in tissues other than the urogenital system.
AB - Sex is determined genetically in all birds, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. All species have a ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system characterised by female (ZW) heterogamety, but the chromosomes themselves can be heteromorphic (in most birds) or homomorphic (in the flightless ratites). Sex in birds might be determined by the dosage of a Z-linked gene (two in males, one in females) or by a dominant ovary-determining gene carried on the W sex chromosome, or both. Sex chromosome aneuploidy has not been conclusively documented in birds to differentiate between these possibilities. By definition, the sex chromosomes of birds must carry one or more sex-determining genes. In this review of avian sex determination, we ask what, when and where? What is the nature of the avian sex determinant? When should it be expressed in the developing embryo, and where is it expressed? The last two questions arise due to evidence suggesting that sex-determining genes in birds might be operating prior to overt sexual differentiation of the gonads into testes or ovaries, and in tissues other than the urogenital system.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34547626241&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1159/000103177
DO - 10.1159/000103177
M3 - Article
VL - 117
SP - 165
EP - 173
JO - Cytogenetic and Genome Research
JF - Cytogenetic and Genome Research
SN - 1424-8581
IS - 1-4
ER -