title: Sex determining genes.
abstract: The development of a male or female phenotype is dependent upon the expression of sets of sex specific differentiation genes early in embryonic life. Selecting the appropriate set of genes requires a primary signal that is unique to males or females, and a set of sex determining genes that respond to the primary signal leading to activation of the correct differentiation pathway. A general model for sex determination is emerging from a study of developmental genes in a number of species. This article describes a number of sex determining genes and genetic pathways in detail, and discusses how apparently dissimilar pathways may have derived from each other during evolution.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Palmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005796:Genes; D050437:Genes, Developmental; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006801:Humans; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D008297:Male; D012730:Sex Chromosomes; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis; D012733:Sex Differentiation; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; C054430:ZFY protein, human