Detecting genes that maintain male sex throughout life

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical University and the University of Biological Sciences have made an important discovery indicating that male sex must be maintained throughout the life of the organism. The team, led by Dr. David Zarkower and Vivian Bardwell, discovered when removing an important gene in male sex formation, called Dmrt1 , made male cells in the testes do it becomes a female cell. The study was published in Nature.

In mammals, sex chromosomes (XX in females, XY in males) will determine the sex of the animal in the future during development by forming the gonadotropic glands. Complete or ovary.

' Scientists have long argued that when deciding what kind of sex is made in embryos, that is the last thing ,' Dr. Zarkowell said. ' We have now discovered that when the Dmrt1 gene is lost in mouse testicles - even in adult mice - many male cells become female cells and testes give signs of ovarian phenotype. than. '

Previous research has shown that when removing a gene, called Foxl2 in the ovary, makes female cells become male and ovarian cells become more like testicles. According to Dr. Zarkowell, the new study, identifies the gonads of both sexes to maintain the sex determination process for the rest of their lives.

Three-day-old embryo, taken by electron microscope . (Photo: Kaheel7.com)

For the scientific research community, this new understanding is a breakthrough. This finding gives a new perspective on how to convert one type of cell into another, a process known as reprogramming, and also says that throughout life, cells in the testes must have The activity prevents the transformation into the female cells commonly found in the ovaries.

' This study indicates that sex determination in mammals can be unexpectedly shifted, and it must be flexible to maintain throughout the life of the organism ,' said Dr. Susan Haynes - the developmental biology project manager at the National Institute of Medicine. ' These new perspectives are important for their understanding of the reprogramming of cells to take on the formation of different identities, and can bring light to the understanding of origin. of some sex reversal disorders in humans. '

This new finding could prompt the scientific community to re-verify how these types of disorders relate to the phenomenon of gender reversal in humans. Some disorders may not stem from errors in the sex of embryos, but may instead stem from failure to maintain the process after embryonic development. Furthermore, since DRMT1 is associated with cancer in the gonads, researchers hope their findings will provide evidence for the development of gonad cancer.