sex-specific region of sex chromosomes in animals and plants

Our understanding of the evolution of sex chromosomes has increased greatly in recent years due to a number of molecular evolutionary investigations in divergent sex chromosome systems, and these findings are reshaping theories of sex chromosome evolution. In particular, the dynamics of the sex-dete...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chromosome research 2012, Vol.20 (1), p.57-69
Main Authors: Gschwend, Andrea R, Weingartner, Laura A, Moore, Richard C, Ming, Ray
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Genetics and Genomics
Animals
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Cell Biology
chickens
Chromosome Structures - genetics
Chromosome Structures - physiology
Chromosomes
Chromosomes, Plant - genetics
Chromosomes, Plant - physiology
DNA Transposable Elements
Dosage Compensation, Genetic
evolution
Evolution, Molecular
Evolutionary biology
Female
genes
Genetic Variation
Genomics
Human Genetics
Humans
intergenic DNA
Life Sciences
Male
microRNA
Pan troglodytes
Plant Genetics and Genomics
Plants - genetics
Ribonucleic acid
RNA
Selection, Genetic
Sex Chromosome Aberrations
Sex Chromosomes - genetics
Sex Chromosomes - physiology
Sex Determination Processes
testes
Testis - cytology
Testis - physiology
Transcription, Genetic
transposons
X chromosome
Y chromosome
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Summary:Our understanding of the evolution of sex chromosomes has increased greatly in recent years due to a number of molecular evolutionary investigations in divergent sex chromosome systems, and these findings are reshaping theories of sex chromosome evolution. In particular, the dynamics of the sex-determining region (SDR) have been demonstrated by recent findings in ancient and incipient sex chromosomes. Radical changes in genomic structure and gene content in the male specific region of the Y chromosome between human and chimpanzee indicated rapid evolution in the past 6 million years, defying the notion that the pace of evolution in the SDR was fast at early stages but slowed down overtime. The chicken Z and the human X chromosomes appeared to have acquired testis-expressed genes and expanded in intergenic regions. Transposable elements greatly contributed to SDR expansion and aided the trafficking of genes in the SDR and its X or Z counterpart through retrotransposition. Dosage compensation is not a destined consequence of sex chromosomes as once thought. Most X-linked microRNA genes escape silencing and are expressed in testis. Collectively, these findings are challenging many of our preconceived ideas of the evolutionary trajectory and fates of sex chromosomes.
ISSN:0967-3849
1573-6849
DOI:10.1007/s10577-011-9255-y