SGER: A Functional Assay to Test Conserved Mechanisms of Sex Determination in the Turtle, T. scripta

性别决定发生在胚胎时期，是性腺启动睾丸或卵巢发育的过程。在哺乳动物中，性别决定级联是由基因开关控制的。然而，在大多数爬行动物中，这一关键过程是由卵的孵化温度控制的，可能容易受到气候变化的影响。温度与睾丸或卵巢发育途径之间的联系尚未得到阐明。为了研究遗传和环境开关下游的信号级联在脊椎动物中是相同的假设，本实验室将开发体外培养和操纵海龟性腺的方法。这些实验将促进我们对温度如何影响爬行动物睾丸或卵巢发育的理解，这将对这些物种的保护具有重要意义。性腺培养的优化方案将免费提供给该领域的其他实验室。这个项目还提供了优秀的教学和推广机会，因为本科生和高中生通常被招募参加。该实验室将继续与达勒姆大学的SEED项目合作，为贫困和少数族裔的高中生提供参与这一迷人研究的机会。

Sex determination occurs during embryonic life and is the process by which the gonad initiates testis or ovary development. In mammals, the sex determination cascade is governed by a genetic switch. However, in most reptiles, this critical process is controlled by the incubation temperature of the egg and may be vulnerable to climate change. The link between temperature and testis or ovary developmental pathways has not yet been elucidated. To investigate the hypothesis that the cascade of signals downstream of genetic and environmental switches is the same across vertebrates, this lab will develop the methodology to culture and manipulate turtle gonads in vitro. These assays will advance our understanding of how temperature influences testis or ovary development in reptiles, which will be important for conservation of these species. An optimized protocol for gonad culture will be made freely available to other labs in the field. This project also affords outstanding teaching and outreach opportunities as undergraduate and high school students are commonly recruited to participate. The lab will continue to work with Durham's Project SEED program to give underprivileged and minority high school students a chance to be involved in this fascinating line of research.