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

SGER：测试海龟性别决定保守机制的功能测定，T. scripta

• 批准号: 0849646
• 负责人: Blanche Capel
• 金额: $ 23.4万
• 依托单位: Duke University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-05-01 至 2011-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0849646&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SGER; Functional; Assay; Test; Conserved

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.

性别确定在胚胎生活期间发生，是性腺发起睾丸或卵巢发育的过程。在哺乳动物中，性别确定级联由遗传转换支配。但是，在大多数爬行动物中，这个关键过程受卵的孵化温度控制，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阐明。为了研究遗传和环境开关下游的一系列信号在整个脊椎动物之间相同的假设，该实验室将在体外开发培养和操纵乌龟性腺的方法。这些分析将提高我们对温度如何影响爬行动物睾丸或卵巢发育的理解，这对于保护这些物种至关重要。 GONAD培养的优化方案将免费提供给该领域的其他实验室。由于本科生和高中生通常会参加，因此该项目还提供了出色的教学和外展机会。该实验室将继续与达勒姆（Durham）的项目种子计划合作，以使贫困和少数民族高中生有机会参与这一有趣的研究。