title: [Mechanism of avian sex determination and differentiation].
abstract: Avian sex is determined by genes on the sex chromosomes (ZZ for male and ZW for female). In avian embryo stage, genes on one or two chromosomes control the sex differentiation. Gonad develops to testis in ZZ male and to ovary in ZW female. To date, DMRT1 (Doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 1) is considered to be the best candidate gene in controlling the avian gonad differentiation. However, recent study showed that avian sex might be determined by cell autonomous independent of sex hormone signal. Therefore, sex determination gene does not only control the gonadal differentiation, but also control body cells. From this sense, DMRT1 is not the switch gene of avian sex determination. What is the switch factor of avian sex determination, and what is the mechanism of avian sex determination? This review discussed the current progresses on avian sex determination and differentiation from three aspects: W chromosome and ovary development, Z chromosome and testis development, and avian sex determination and cell autonomous.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China. yangxiurong09@163.com
authors.forename: Xiu-Rong
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: He-Sheng
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006066:Gonads / Q000196:embryology; D008297:Male; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D012733:Sex Differentiation; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C110547:DMRT1 protein; D014157:Transcription Factors