Developmental dynamics of sex reprogramming by high incubation temperatures in a dragon lizard.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In some vertebrate species, gene-environment interactions can determine sex, driving bipotential gonads to differentiate into either ovaries or testes. In the central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), the genetic influence of sex chromosomes (ZZ/ZW) can be overridden by high incubation temperatures, causing ZZ male to female sex reversal. Previous research showed ovotestes, a rare gonadal phenotype with traits of both sexes, develop during sex reversal, leading to the hypothesis that sex reversal relies on high temperature feminisation to outcompete the male genetic cue. To test this, we conducted temperature switching experiments at key developmental stages, and analysed the effect on gonadal phenotypes using histology and transcriptomics.

Results

We found sexua

SUBMITTER: Whiteley SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9034607 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature