自然种群中一只ZZW雌性个体的观察：对鸟类性别决定的启示
Observation of a ZZW female in a natural population: implications for avian sex determination.
作者信息
Arit D, Bensch S, Hansson B, Hasselquist D, Westerdahl H
机构信息
Department of Animal Ecology, Lund University, Ecology Building, S-223 62 Lund, Sweden.
出版信息
Proc Biol Sci. 2004 May 7;271 Suppl 4(Suppl 4):S249-51. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2003.0155.
Avian sex determination is chromosomal; however, the underlying mechanisms are not yet understood. There is no conclusive evidence for either of two proposed mechanisms: a dominant genetic switch or a dosage mechanism. No dominant sex-determining gene on the female-specific W chromosome has been found. Birds lack inactivation of one of the Z chromosomes in males, but seem to compensate for a double dose of Z-linked genes by other mechanisms. Recent studies showing female-specific expression of two genes may support an active role of the W chromosome. To resolve the question of avian sex determination the investigation of birds with a 2A: ZZW or 2A: ZO genotype would be decisive. Here, we report the case of an apparent 2A: ZZW great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) female breeding in a natural population, which was detected using Z-linked microsatellites. Our data strongly suggest a role of W-linked genes in avian sex determination.
鸟类的性别决定是由染色体决定的；然而，其潜在机制尚未完全明了。对于两种提出的机制：显性遗传开关或剂量机制，均没有确凿的证据。在雌性特有的W染色体上尚未发现显性性别决定基因。鸟类雄性中不存在Z染色体的失活现象，但似乎通过其他机制来补偿Z连锁基因的双倍剂量。最近的研究表明两个基因的雌性特异性表达可能支持W染色体发挥积极作用。为了解决鸟类性别决定的问题，对具有2A:ZZW或2A:ZO基因型的鸟类进行研究将具有决定性意义。在此，我们报告了在一个自然种群中发现的一只明显为2A:ZZW基因型的大苇莺雌性个体进行繁殖的案例，该个体是通过Z连锁微卫星检测到的。我们的数据有力地表明了W连锁基因在鸟类性别决定中发挥作用。
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