[Genes involved in sex determination and differentiation].
Chromosomal sex is established at fertilization by the presence of an X or Y chromosome. The first step of male and female development is gonadal specialization in testes or ovaries; all other processes that follow result from secondary effects produced by testis and ovary hormones. Gonadal determination and differentiation and the development of external genitalia involve time- and tissue-specific expression of genes forming a gene cascade. Those genes, their expression profile and their role in the pathological manifestations related to gonadal and external genitalia development will be discussed in this review.
Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Departamento de Genética Médica, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP. mmello@unicamp.br
Maricilda Palandi de
MP
Mello
Juliana de G
Jde G
Assumpção
Christine
C
Hackel
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008967:Molecular Biology; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*