Sex determination: a tale of two Sox genes.
Vertebrates use many different strategies to determine sex, but the Sox9 gene is a common thread, probably acting as the pivotal gene that controls the male-determining pathway. It now appears that Sox9 is not alone in this role, and that a closely related gene, Sox8, can partly substitute for Sox9. But is this a clever backup strategy to safeguard male development, or a relic of the past?
Koopman
Peter
P
Division of Molecular Genetics and Developmental Biology, and ARC Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia. p.koopman@imb.uq.edu.au
D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008954:Models, Biological; D010641:Phenotype; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; D055757:SOXE Transcription Factors; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014998:Y Chromosome
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; C406240:SOX8 protein, human; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; C527932:SOX9 protein, human; D055757:SOXE Transcription Factors; C498639:Sox8 protein, mouse; C527933:Sox9 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors