title: Non-homologous sex chromosomes in two geckos (Gekkonidae: Gekkota) with female heterogamety.
abstract: Evaluating homology between the sex chromosomes of different species is an important first step in deducing the origins and evolution of sex-determining mechanisms in a clade. Here, we describe the preparation of Z and W chromosome paints via chromosome microdissection from the Australian marbled gecko (Christinus marmoratus) and their subsequent use in evaluating sex chromosome homology with the ZW chromosomes of the Kwangsi gecko (Gekko hokouensis) from eastern Asia. We show that the ZW sex chromosomes of C. marmoratus and G. hokouensis are not homologous and represent independent origins of female heterogamety within the Gekkonidae. We also show that the C. marmoratus Z and W chromosomes are genetically similar to each other as revealed by C-banding, comparative genomic hybridization, and the reciprocal painting of Z and W chromosome probes. This implies that sex chromosomes in C. marmoratus are at an early stage of differentiation, suggesting a recent origin.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia.
authors.forename: Kazumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gamble
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zarkower
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Sarre
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Georges
authors.forename: Jennifer A Marshall
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.forename: Tariq
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ezaz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002871:Chromosome Banding; D055028:Comparative Genomic Hybridization; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005260:Female; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008116:Lizards / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012730:Sex Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity