MadSci Network: Genetics
Query:

Subject: Gender genetics and expression in sex-changing animals

Date: Fri May 30 15:51:42 1997
Posted by Jason Goodman
Grade level: grad
School: M.I.T.
City: Cambridge State/Province: MA
Country: USA
Area of science: Genetics
ID: 865025502.Ge
Message:
I've read in the past about animals (fish, I believe) which change
their genders depending on age and environmental conditions.  If I
remember right, they're able to produce eggs while female, and sperm
while male.
How does this work?  I presume they have sex chromosomes, and are
therefore genetically one gender or the other.  Which?  Do they have 
both ovaries and testes, or do the ovaries turn into testes?  I 
understand how secondary sex traits can be altered, even in humans, 
by hormonal changes, but I'd thought that internal organs were pretty 
much set in stone during development.


Re: Gender genetics and expression in sex-changing animals

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