The Genetics and Biology of Sex Determination / Edition 1

by Derek J. Chadwick, Jamie A. Goode

Overview

Nature employs a wide variety of sex determining mechanisms and it is only comparatively recently that the tools have become available for these to be explored at the cellular and molecular levels.  A major landmark was the discovery in 1990 of the SRY gene and the subsequent demonstration of its key role in triggering male sex determination in transgenic mice. 

This book reviews and discusses our current understanding of the molecular genetic pathways of sex determination, with special emphasis on vertebrates. It features comparisons with other modes of sex determination, consideration of the biology of sexual development and discussion of the evolution of sex-determining mechanisms.

By bringing together an international and interdisciplinary group of experts who study many different aspects of the problem, the book highlights much new and exciting work in this area and serves to identify and stimulate promising new research directions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780470843468
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	04/26/2002
Series:	Novartis Foundation Symposia , #244
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.27(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Derek J. Chadwick and Jamie A. Goode are editors for The Genetics and Biology of Sex Determination and other scientific titles.

Table of Contents

Chair's Introduction (R. Short).

Sex-determining genes in mice: building pathways (R. Lovell-Badge, et al.).

Early gonadal development: exploring Wtl and Sox9 function (J. Guo, et al.).

General Discussion I: The mechanism of action of SRY.

Anomalies of human sexual development: clinical aspects and genetic analysis (E. Vilain).

The molecular action of testis-determining factors SRY and SOX 9 (V. Harley).

Concerted regulation of gonad differentiation by transcription factors and growth factors (T. Suzuki, et al.).

General Discussion II.

Evolution of the testis-determining gene - the rise and fall of SRY (Marshall Graves).

A Comparative Analysis of vertebrate Sex Determination (A. Sinclair, et al.).

Invertebrates may not be so different after all (D. Zarkower).

The hormonal control of sexual development (M. Renfree, et al.).

Genetic studies of MIS signalling in sexual development (S. Jamin, et al.)

Social regulation of the brain: sex, size and status (R. Fernald).

The battle of the sexes: opposing pathways in sex determination (H. Hung-Chang Yao, et al).

General Discussion III: True Hermaphroditism and the Formation of the Ovotestis.

The evolution of chromosomal sex determination (B. Charlesworth).

The molecular genetic jigsaw puzzle of vertebrate sex determination and its missing pieces (G. Scherer).

Expression-based strategies for discover of genes involved in testis and ovary development (P. Koopman, et al.).

Final General Discussion.

Index of Contributors.

Subject Index.

Editorial Reviews

"...The papers presented are of uniform high quality and this book is essential reading for any serious student of sex determination..." (Human Genetics, October 2002)

From the Publisher

Contains 15 papers delivered at a May 2001 symposium held in London, along with their ensuing discussions. The contributors share recent research on the molecular genetic pathways of sex determination, with several offering comparisons of sex-determining mechanisms in different species. Some of the topics are the molecular action of testis-determining factors SRY and SOX9, concerted regulation of gonad differentiation by transcription factors and growth factors, genetic studies of MIS signaling in sexual development, and true hermaphroditism and the formation of the ovotestis. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)