The Curious Case of Avian Sex Determination

Craig A. Smith, Andrew T. Major, Martin A. Estermann

Research output: Contribution to journalShort SurveyOtherpeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Ioannidis and colleagues show that the gene DMRT1 is the master regulator of testis development in the chicken. Yet, remarkably, when this gene is deleted in genetic males and gonads form ovaries, the body remains male. This debunks the notion that somatic sex is driven primarily by hormones in birds.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)496-497
Number of pages2
JournalTrends in Genetics
Volume37
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2021

Keywords

  • avian sex
  • chicken embryo
  • DMRT1
  • gonad
  • gonadal sex differentiation
  • sex determination

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