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Thread: New study on mice: particular gene not found on sex chromosomes may play role in sex determination.

  1. #1
    Oliphaunt Taumpy's avatar
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    Default New study on mice: particular gene not found on sex chromosomes may play role in sex determination.

    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...1210125546.htm

    Apparently some scientists in Europe have discovered that shutting off a gene called Foxl2, located on an autosome (or non-sex chromosome) in adult mice causes the cells in ovaries to become more like those found in testes, leading to speculation that this particular gene is required for an embryo to become female.

    Current "common knowledge" (thanks, Jurassic Park) is that all embryos start out female and become male if there's a Y chromosome. It's interesting to think that it's possible that all female mammals actually only stay that way because of this Foxl2.

  2. #2
    The Queen Zuul's avatar
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    The fact that a single gene like that could have such a dramatic effect is fascinating, but what is even more bizarre is that these were adult female mice that they did this to. Their ovarian tissues, having developed in utero and matured all along the female pathway, switched over to attempting to carry out the functions of testes.

    What a bizarre and wonderful thing science is.

  3. #3
    Content Generator AllWalker's avatar
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    Genetics is just weird. Even without the bizarre biomolecular ritual that is sexual reproduction. Genomes use magic - they've had 4 billion years to practice.
    Something tells me we haven't seen the last of foreshadowing.

  4. #4
    like Gandalf in a way Nrblex's avatar
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    To recap:

    Scientists can turn mouse ovaries into testes.

    The nightmare scenarios of a cloned future will never come to pass because we're discovering new methods of tissue engineering every day. Clones won't be grown for their parts, because we can create human body parts without the human.

    You can walk around with a little device that lets you access hundreds of thousands of books without ever getting off your ass.

    We can send our voices and images anywhere in the world with machines that weigh only ounces, and a huge percentage of the developed world population has one.

    We are living in the future, people.

    And it is freaky-cool.

  5. #5
    SPAM?
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    its a very strange information that a particular gene not found on sex chromosomes may play role in sex determination. how this happen...is there any reference is given in this forum....thanks

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