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Determination and stability of sex
Author(s) -
Ottolenghi Chris,
Uda Manuela,
Crisponi Laura,
Omari Shakib,
Cao Antonio,
Forabosco Antonino,
Schlessinger David
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.20515
Subject(s) - testis determining factor , gonad , somatic cell , ovary , biology , germline , gene , genetics , development of the gonads , microbiology and biotechnology , y chromosome , endocrinology
How is the embryonic bipotential gonad regulated to produce either an ovary or a testis? In males, transient early activation of the Y chromosome Sry gene makes both germ cells and soma male. However, in females, available evidence suggests that the process of ovary sex determination may take place independently in the germline and somatic lineages. In addition, in contrast to testis, in ovary somatic cells, female‐to‐male gonadal sex reversal can occur at times throughout ovary development and maturation. We suggest that a single gene pathway, likely hinging on the Foxl2 transcription factor, both initiates and maintains sex differentiation in somatic cells of the mammalian ovary. BioEssays 29: 15–25, 2007. Published 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.