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Control of sex determination in animals

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EJB Reviews 1993

Part of the book series: EJB Reviews ((EJB REVIEWS,volume 1993))

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Abstract

Sex determination is a developmental process that is common to many biological systems. In model systems such as Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans and mice, sex determination generates sexually dimorphic individuals with respect to a number of morphological and physiological characteristics. One of the most interesting and extensively studied questions in developmental biology is what governs the commitment of cells to either sexual fate. The answer to this question may provide an insight into how complex gene interactions initiate and maintain developmental decisions.

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Abbreviations

Sxl :

sex-lethal

da :

daughterless

dsx :

double-sex

tra :

transformer

msl :

male-specific lethal

sis-a :

sisterless a

sdc :

sex determination and dosage compensation

sis-b :

sisterless b

TDF:

testis-determining factor

MIS:

Müllerian inhibiting substance

SRY :

sex-determining region, Y chromosome

ORF:

open reading frame

HMG:

high mobility group

HOX :

human homeobox-containing

LEF-1:

lymphoid enhancer factor

TCF1:

T cell transcription factor-1

IRE:

insulin response element

Tdy :

testis-determining Y chromosome

tda :

testis-determining autosomal

Tas :

T-associated sex reversal

WT:

Wilms’ tumour

d.p.c.:

days post-coitum

PCR:

polymerase chain reaction

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McElreavey, K., Vilain, E., Cotinot, C., Payen, E., Fellous, M. (1994). Control of sex determination in animals. In: EJB Reviews 1993. EJB Reviews, vol 1993. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78757-7_16

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