Credit: La Trobe University.
The sex of dragon lizards is determined by a gene that is different from the sex genes in other animals.
The study shows dragon lizards are determined to be male or female by epigenetic changes rather than genetic differences.
The study was co-authored by Professor Jenny Graves at La Trobe University, along with Professor Arthur Georges and members of his University of Canberra team.
Professor Graves said that the research team was astounded by the discovery.
We looked at the genes of the sex chromosomes in 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 Professor Graves said they couldn't understand why they weren't acting the same way.
The two sex chromosomes looked different under the microscope. The female-specific (W) chromosome has a lot of repetitive (junk) DNA.
Professor Graves said that their breakthrough was the realization that repetitive DNA could distort the W chromosome so that the sex gene was read wrong.
Sex in the dragon lizard was determined by the sex gene's 'neighborhood' rather than the base sequence.
The discovery shows how the Earth BioGenome Project will change the way scientists do biological research.
Professor Graves is an author on two PNAS papers that chart the aims and progress of the grand international project to sequence the genomes of all 1.8 million species of animals, plants, fungi and single celled organisms.
If we'd just looked at humans, mice and zebrafish, we wouldn't have discovered this unique way of doing genetic sex determination. Professor Graves said that dragon lizards can provide new information about genes.
The Earth BioGenome Project will give us critical information about all life on the planet. It will help us to identify and save species, and monitor the ecological systems that generate clean air, water and food that sustain human life.
Professor Graves said that the race is on to complete the 10-year project because forecasts show that the earth will lose 50 percent of its biodiversity by the end of this century.
By the end of 2022, we will have 3,100 species, up from a few hundred just a few years ago. We're a good way to get to our goal of decoding 9,400 species.
Professor Graves said that the international team is not intimidated by the goal of creating a digital library of the genomes.
Professor Graves said that it will cost less and take less time than it took to sequence the human genome 20 years ago.
Sex determination is controlled by the chromosomes, according to sex-specific splicing of Z- and W-borne alleles.
The National Academy of Sciences has a journal.
Australian dragons' gender is determined by epigenetic differences.
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