Identification of candidate gonadal sex differentiation genes in the chicken embryo using RNA-seq.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite some advances in recent years, the genetic control of gonadal sex differentiation during embryogenesis is still not completely understood. To identify new candidate genes involved in ovary and testis development, RNA-seq was used to define the transcriptome of embryonic chicken gonads at the onset of sexual differentiation (day 6.0/stage 29).

Results

RNA-seq revealed more than 1000 genes that were transcribed in a sex-biased manner at this early stage of gonadal differentiation. Comparison with undifferentiated gonads revealed that sex biased expression was derived primarily from autosomal rather than sex-linked genes. Gene ontology and pathway analysis indicated that many of these genes encoded proteins involved in extracellular matrix function and cytosk

SUBMITTER: Ayers KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4574023 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature