Conference: FIFTH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE BIOLOGY OF VERTEBRATE SEX DETERMINATION (CONFERENCE/SCIENTIFIC MEETING)April 20-24, 2009 in Kona, Hawaii

这一科学会议每三年举行一次，汇集了整个国际科学界的科学家和他们的学员，研究包括两栖动物、鱼类、鸟类、爬行动物和哺乳动物在内的各种脊椎动物中雄性和雌性如何形成（性别决定）的分子、遗传和环境机制。其中一些物种依赖环境性别决定，如视觉或种群线索，或卵孵化的温度。相比之下，大多数哺乳动物使用一种遗传性别决定系统，该系统取决于Y染色体相关基因Sry。尽管存在这种物种多样性，但雄性和雌性形成的许多遗传途径都是相同的。然而，睾丸和卵巢形成的机制被证明是高度分化的，这为男性和女性途径的进化提供了令人兴奋的见解。由于几乎不可能跟上这么多不同动物系统的进步，这次会议的目的是交换信息，使用脊椎动物物种之间的比较方法来推进我们对雄性和雌性形成的性别决定过程的理解。这次会议强调初级科学家的参与，包括助理教授、博士后研究员和研究生，这是他们科学训练的一个重要方面。事实上，在2006年的最后一次会议上，大约80%的演讲或展示海报的参与者都是年轻的科学家。此外，本次会议约35%的受邀演讲者是女性。因此，将继续吸收大量的青年科学家和妇女参加这次会议。另一个重要目标将是增加代表性不足的少数群体的参与。了解不同脊椎动物物种的性别决定机制为了解大自然如何平衡动物种群的性别比例提供了重要的见解。

This scientific meeting, held once every three years, brings together the entire international community of scientists and their trainees, researching the molecular, genetic, and environmental mechanisms of how males and females are formed (sex determination) in diverse vertebrate animals, including amphibians, fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals. Some of these species rely on environmental sex determination, such as visual or population cues, or temperature of egg incubation. In contrast, most mammals use a genetic sex-determining system that depends on the Y chromosome-linked gene Sry. Despite this species diversity, many of the same genetic pathways for male and female formation are involved. However, the mechanisms of testis and ovary formation are proving to be highly diverged, providing exciting insights into the evolution of male and female pathways. As it is nearly impossible to keep up with the advances made in so many diverse animal systems, the objective of this meeting is to exchange information, using a comparative approach between vertebrate species to advance our understanding of the process of sex determination for the formation of males and females. This meeting emphasizes the participation of junior scientists, including assistant professors, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students, an essential aspect of their scientific training. Indeed, at the last meeting in 2006, ~80% of the participants who gave talks or presented posters were junior scientists. In addition, ~35% of the invited speakers at the current meeting are women. Thus, the incorporation of significant numbers of junior scientists and women into this meeting will continue. Another important objective will be to increase the participation of underrepresented minorities. Knowledge of sex-determining mechanisms in diverse vertebrate species provides important insights into how nature balances sex ratios in animal populations.