A sex-specific marker reveals male heterogamety in European tree frogs

Most amphibians examined so far show undifferentiated sex chromosomes. The heterogametic sex's identity, usually revealed through indirect means, often varies among closely related species or even populations (as do sex-linkage groups), suggesting great evolutionary instability of the sex-deter...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular biology and evolution 2006-06, Vol.23 (6), p.1104-1106
Main Authors: Berset-Brändli, L, Jaquiéry, J, Dubey, S, Perrin, N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anura - genetics
Biological Evolution
Female
Hyla arborea
Life Sciences
Male
Microsatellite Repeats
Sex Determination Processes
Switzerland
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Summary:Most amphibians examined so far show undifferentiated sex chromosomes. The heterogametic sex's identity, usually revealed through indirect means, often varies among closely related species or even populations (as do sex-linkage groups), suggesting great evolutionary instability of the sex-determining genes. Here we take advantage of a sex-specific marker that amplifies in several related species of European tree frogs (Hyla arborea group) to disclose a homogeneous pattern of male heterogamety. Besides relevance for evolutionary studies of sex determination in amphibians, our results have potential for addressing practical issues in conservation biology because sex reversal by anthropogenic endocrine disruptors is considered one possible cause of amphibian decline.
ISSN:0737-4038
1537-1719
DOI:10.1093/molbev/msk011