title: Molecular-cytogenetic analysis reveals sequence differences between the sex chromosomes of Oreochromis niloticus: evidence for an early stage of sex-chromosome differentiation.
abstract: Sex determination in the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, is primarily genetic, with XX females and XY males. A candidate sex-determining region in the terminal region of the largest chromosome pair has been identified by analysis of meiotic chromosomes. This region shows an inhibition of pairing and synapsis in the XY genotype, but not in XX or YY genotypes, suggesting that recombination is inhibited. Here we show that chromosome microdissection and subsequent amplification by degenerate oligonucleotide-primed PCR (DOP-PCR) can be used to produce in situ hybridization probes to this largest pair of O. niloticus chromosomes. Furthermore, analysis of the comparative hybridization of X and Y chromosome-derived probes to different genotypes provides the first demonstration that sequence differences exist between the sex chromosomes of O. niloticus. This provides further support for the theory that this chromosome pair is related to sex determination and further suggests that the sex chromosomes are at a very early stage of divergence.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Masabanda
authors.forename: L A P
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Carrasco
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Bromage
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Penman
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Griffin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020223:Chromosome Painting; D023681:Cichlids / Q000235:genetics*; D003582:Cytogenetics; D015342:DNA Probes; D005260:Female; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008967:Molecular Biology; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000235:genetics*; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes