Homomorphic sex chromosomes and rapid turnover of sex-determining genes can complicate establishing the sex chromosome system operating in a given species. This difficulty exists in Xenopus tropicalis, an anuran quickly becoming a relevant model for genetic, genomic, biochemical, and ecotoxicological research. Despite the recent interest attracted by this species, little is known about its sex ...

Turtle karyotypes are highly conserved compared to other vertebrates; yet, variation in diploid number (2n = 26-68) reflects profound genomic reorganization, which correlates with evolutionary turnovers in sex determination. We evaluate the published literature and newly collected comparative cytogenetic data (G- and C-banding, 18S-NOR, and telomere-FISH mapping) from 13 species spanning 2n = 2...

Several types of sex chromosome systems have been recorded among Gymnotiformes, including male and female heterogamety, simple and multiple sex chromosomes, and different mechanisms of origin and evolution. The X1X1X2X2/X1X2Y systems identified in three species of this order are considered homoplasic for the group. In the genus Brachyhypopomus, only B. gauderio presented this type of system. He...

Sex determination is a fundamental developmental pathway governing male and female differentiation, with profound implications for morphology, reproductive strategies, and behavior. In animals, sex differences between males and females are generally determined by genetic factors carried by sex chromosomes. Sex chromosomes are remarkably variable in origin and can differ even between closely rel...

Sex-linked meiotic drive is found in a broad variety of taxa, including insects, birds, and mammals. In populations of some species, we see four types of sex chromosomes segregating: normal and driving X chromosomes and susceptible and resistant Y chromosomes. A theoretical analysis shows that a stable four-chromosome equilibria is a more common outcome in these systems than previously recogniz...

Southern swordtail fishes, which belong to the viviparous teleosts called Xiphophorus, are unique models for studies of evolution sex chromosomes. Monofactorial sex-determining systems, with either male or female being heterogametic sex, as well determination involving more than two chromosomes, found in swordtails and related species. Some species seem have originated by crossing between close...

X chromosome inactivation in eutherian mammals has been thought to be tightly controlled, as expected from a mechanism that compensates for the different dosage of X-borne genes in XX females and XY males. However, many X genes escape inactivation in humans, inactivation of the X in marsupials is partial, and the unrelated sex chromosomes of monotreme mammals have incomplete and gene-specific i...

Ancient or canonical sex chromosome pairs consist of a gene rich X (or Z) chromosome and a male(or female-) limited Y (or W) chromosome that is gene poor. In contrast to highly differentiated sex chromosomes, nascent sex chromosome pairs are homomorphic or very similar in sequence content. Nascent sex chromosomes arise frequently over the course of evolution, as evidenced by differences in sex ...

Salmonids are descended from a common ancestor that underwent an autotetraploidization event. After a whole genome duplication species could deal with sex determination by deleting one copy of SEX, the sex determining locus, or by recruiting a duplicated transcription factor to become a novel sex determining gene. It is not known which if any of these strategies salmonids adopted, but it appear...