FOXL2 and DMRT1L Are Yin and Yang Genes for Determining Timing of Sex Differentiation in the Bivalve Mollusk Patinopecten yessoensis.

ABSTRACT: Sex determination and differentiation have long been a research hotspot in metazoans. However, little is known about when and how sex differentiation occurs in most mollusks. In this study, we conducted a combined morphological and molecular study on sex differentiation in the Yesso scallop Patinopecten yessoensis. Histological examination on gonads from 5- to 13-month-old juveniles revealed that the morphological sex differentiation occurred at 10 months of age. To determine the onset of molecular sex differentiation, molecular markers were screened for early identification of sex. The gonadal expression profiles of eight candidate genes for sex determination or differentiation showed that only two genes displayed sexually dimorphic expression, with FOXL2 being abundant in o

SUBMITTER: Li R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6113668 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature