Decoding sex: Elucidating sex determination and how high-quality genome assemblies are untangling the evolutionary dynamics of sex chromosomes

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Ramos, L (Author) Other; Agostinho Antunes (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Genomics

Vol. 114

ISSN: 0888-7543

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 7 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00W-8Q9

DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110277

Abstract (EN): Sexual reproduction is a diverse and widespread process. In gonochoristic species, the differentiation of sexes occurs through diverse mechanisms, influenced by environmental and genetic factors. In most vertebrates, a master-switch gene is responsible for triggering a sex determination network. However, only a few genes have acquired master-switch functions, and this process is associated with the evolution of sex-chromosomes, which have a significant influence in evolution. Additionally, their highly repetitive regions impose challenges for high-quality sequencing, even using high-throughput, state-of-the-art techniques. Here, we review the mechanisms involved in sex determination and their role in the evolution of species, particularly vertebrates, focusing on sex chromosomes and the challenges involved in sequencing these genomic elements. We also address the improvements provided by the growth of sequencing projects, by generating a massive number of near-gapless, telomere-to-telomere, chromosome-level, phased assemblies, increasing the number and quality of sex-chromosome sequences available for further studies.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 18