Switching on sex: How key mammalian sex-determining genes are activated

作为男性或女性的发展是胚胎生命中最重要的生物决定之一。虽然现在已经知道了几个关键的性别决定基因，但还不清楚它们是如何在正确的时间和正确的性腺细胞中发挥作用以指导性别决定的。该项目旨在利用生物信息学，生物化学，细胞测定和强大的基因组编辑技术在小鼠中确定必要的调控元件并了解它们如何发挥作用。除了解决哺乳动物分子遗传学和发育生物学方面的关键问题外，该项目产生的数据可能为害虫管理、野生动物保护和牲畜育种方面的创新生物技术提供基础。

Development as a male or female is one of the most important biological decisions made during embryonic life. Although several of the key sex-determining genes are now known, it is unclear how they come to be active at the right time and in the right cells of the gonad to direct sex determination. This project aims to use bioinformatics, biochemistry, cellular assays and powerful genome editing technologies in mice to pinpoint essential regulatory elements and understand how they function. In addition to addressing key issues in mammalian molecular genetics and developmental biology, data generated in this project may provide a basis for innovative biotechnologies in pest management, wildlife conservation and livestock breeding.