Sorry, this posting is not really right for this group, but I'm not sure
where else to send it! I am interested in any information out there on
sex-determination in birds, especially with regard to male/female specific
probes/PCR. Also (and this is more in line with this group perhaps) any
thoughts on the evolution of sex chromosomes in birds vs mammals. As most
My understanding is that females are the "default" developmental pathway
and males only arise if the Y is there (or to be more specific if the gene
Sry is there) and are the heterogametic sex. In birds it is the opposite
with females being the heterogametic sex (ZW). Now does this mean that males
are the "default" (ZZ) pathway and the W chromosome contains a female
determining gene? What does this mean with regard to the evolution of sex
chromosomes (happened twice?)? Or am I just OTL?
Bruce Elder
elder at cgl.ucsf.edu
