Sex determination and differentiation in reptiles

Amanda W. Carter, Ryan T. Paitz, Satomi Kohno

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Sex-determining mechanisms (SDMs) of reptiles are remarkably diverse, ranging from systems under complete genetic control to systems that are highly dependent upon the environment, including temperatures and endocrine signals that embryos experience during development. Because reptiles exhibit a remarkable diversity in SDMs, this group provides opportunities to address critical questions about the proximate mechanisms of sex determination, as well as their ecology and evolution. This chapter aims to integrate studies from different disciplines (e.g., ecology, evolution, physiology, molecular biology) to summarize the current understanding of reptilian sex determination, broadly. This chapter is divided into six sections that cover the taxonomic distribution of SDMs, diversity of reptilian SDMs, molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying sex determination, endocrine disruption in sex determination, ecology and evolution of reptilian SDMs, and current gaps in our understanding of this field to direct future research.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationHormones and Reproduction of Vertebrates
Subtitle of host publicationReptiles: Volume 3, Second Edition
PublisherElsevier
Pages1-33
Number of pages33
ISBN (Electronic)9780443160226
ISBN (Print)9780443160233
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2024

Keywords

  • Environmental sex determination
  • Evolutionary transitions
  • GSD-TSD continuum
  • Genotypic sex determination
  • Sex chromosomes
  • Sex-determining mechanisms
  • Temperature-dependent sex determination

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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