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Hulse L, Tomsett C, Roser A, Clark L, Meer H, Pyne M, Fenelon JC, Renfree MB, Johnston S. An evaluation of DNA sample source and molecular markers to determine gender in the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus). Zoo Biol 2024; 43:92-99. [PMID: 37905691 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
The short-beaked echidna is sexually monomorphic such that gender identification without veterinary intervention is challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the most optimal noninvasive genetic source by extracting echidna genomic DNA (gDNA) from fecal scats, plucked hair, and quills to perform genetic sex testing using a range of molecular markers. Sex determination of 14 captive short-beaked echidnas was determined by amplifying isolated DNA from noninvasive samples, targeting two Y chromosome (male-specific) genes (mediator complex subunit 26 Y-gametologue [CRSPY] and anti-Müllerian hormone Y-gametologue [AMHY]), in addition to four confirmed sex-specific RADseq markers. Results of noninvasive samples were compared with blood samples and clinical records. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess accuracy of sex determination of markers for each sample type. The gender of the echidnas was successfully identified on 75% of occasions using fecal samples, 90.6% occasions using hair, and 84.6% occasions with quills. Overall, the male-specific RADseq markers accurately identified the sex of echidnas with all sample types for 90% of animals; compared with 81.5% using CRSPY, and 82.0% using AMHY to identify sex. Collection of hair, quills, and feces provides a useful alternative to invasively collected samples, however, the accuracy of results depends on sample type and genetic marker selected. We found gender determination in the short-beaked echidna was most accurate using four male-specific RADseq markers on gDNA isolated from blood and hair. The noninvasive genetic sexing techniques documented here will inform and facilitate husbandry and genetic management of captive echidna populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyndal Hulse
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia
| | - Caitlin Tomsett
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia
| | - Alice Roser
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Currumbin, Australia
| | - Lauren Clark
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Currumbin, Australia
| | - Haley Meer
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Currumbin, Australia
| | - Michael Pyne
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Currumbin, Australia
| | - Jane C Fenelon
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marilyn B Renfree
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stephen Johnston
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia
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Rodríguez-Montes L, Ovchinnikova S, Yuan X, Studer T, Sarropoulos I, Anders S, Kaessmann H, Cardoso-Moreira M. Sex-biased gene expression across mammalian organ development and evolution. Science 2023; 382:eadf1046. [PMID: 37917687 PMCID: PMC7615307 DOI: 10.1126/science.adf1046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Sexually dimorphic traits are common among mammals and are specified during development through the deployment of sex-specific genetic programs. Because little is known about these programs, we investigated them using a resource of gene expression profiles in males and females throughout the development of five organs in five mammals (human, mouse, rat, rabbit, and opossum) and a bird (chicken). We found that sex-biased gene expression varied considerably across organs and species and was often cell-type specific. Sex differences increased abruptly around sexual maturity instead of increasing gradually during organ development. Finally, sex-biased gene expression evolved rapidly at the gene level, with differences between organs in the evolutionary mechanisms used, but more slowly at the cellular level, with the same cell types being sexually dimorphic across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Rodríguez-Montes
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Xuefei Yuan
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tania Studer
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ioannis Sarropoulos
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simon Anders
- BioQuant, Heidelberg University, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Henrik Kaessmann
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Stöck M, Kratochvíl L, Kuhl H, Rovatsos M, Evans BJ, Suh A, Valenzuela N, Veyrunes F, Zhou Q, Gamble T, Capel B, Schartl M, Guiguen Y. A brief review of vertebrate sex evolution with a pledge for integrative research: towards ' sexomics'. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200426. [PMID: 34247497 PMCID: PMC8293304 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Triggers and biological processes controlling male or female gonadal differentiation vary in vertebrates, with sex determination (SD) governed by environmental factors or simple to complex genetic mechanisms that evolved repeatedly and independently in various groups. Here, we review sex evolution across major clades of vertebrates with information on SD, sexual development and reproductive modes. We offer an up-to-date review of divergence times, species diversity, genomic resources, genome size, occurrence and nature of polyploids, SD systems, sex chromosomes, SD genes, dosage compensation and sex-biased gene expression. Advances in sequencing technologies now enable us to study the evolution of SD at broader evolutionary scales, and we now hope to pursue a sexomics integrative research initiative across vertebrates. The vertebrate sexome comprises interdisciplinary and integrated information on sexual differentiation, development and reproduction at all biological levels, from genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes, to the organs involved in sexual and sex-specific processes, including gonads, secondary sex organs and those with transcriptional sex-bias. The sexome also includes ontogenetic and behavioural aspects of sexual differentiation, including malfunction and impairment of SD, sexual differentiation and fertility. Starting from data generated by high-throughput approaches, we encourage others to contribute expertise to building understanding of the sexomes of many key vertebrate species. This article is part of the theme issue 'Challenging the paradigm in sex chromosome evolution: empirical and theoretical insights with a focus on vertebrates (Part I)'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Stöck
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries—IGB (Forschungsverbund Berlin), Müggelseedamm 301, 12587 Berlin, Germany
- Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 12844 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Heiner Kuhl
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries—IGB (Forschungsverbund Berlin), Müggelseedamm 301, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michail Rovatsos
- Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Ben J. Evans
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Life Sciences Building Room 328, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1
| | - Alexander Suh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TU, UK
- Department of Organismal Biology—Systematic Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nicole Valenzuela
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Frédéric Veyrunes
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, ISEM UMR 5554 (CNRS/Université de Montpellier/IRD/EPHE), Montpellier, France
| | - Qi Zhou
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tony Gamble
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
| | - Blanche Capel
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Manfred Schartl
- Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- The Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
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