H-Y antigen and the genetics of sex determination.
Widespread phylogenetic conservation of H-Y antigen indicates persistence of a vital function. It has been proposed that this function is the primary determination of mammalian sex. According to this proposal, the indifferent embryonic gonad is induced to differentiate as a testis in the presence of H-Y antigen, and as an ovary in the absence of H-Y antigen. But presence of H-Y antigen does not guarantee testicular differentiation. Other factors may be required: a gene that activates the H-Y structural locus, and another gene that codes for specific H-Y antigen receptors.
D000818:Animals; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005796:Genes; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012377:Rodentia; D012729:Sex Chromosome Aberrations / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012730:Sex Chromosomes / Q000276:immunology*; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis; D012733:Sex Differentiation; D013737:Testis / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000276:immunology*
D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens