In matters of sexual differentiation the tree frog is still something of a greenhorn

The European tree frog (Hyla arborea) possesses a genetic system of sexual differentiation that developed only two or three million years ago.

By way of comparison: the corresponding system in humans – the X and Y chromosomes – developed just under 300 million years ago. This suggests that nature offers different approaches to solving an apparently simple problem, i.e. that of producing individuals of different sex.

In addition, the investigation of tree frog genes by SNSF-funded researchers at the University of Lausanne's Department of Ecology and Evolution shows that the commonly accepted theory of the development of chromosomes for sexual differentiation is incomplete.

Contact:
Prof. Nicolas Perrin
Abteilung für Ökologie und Evolution
Universität Lausanne
Le Biophore
CH-1015 Lausanne
Phone: 021 692 41 84
E-Mail: nicolas.perrin@unil.ch

Media Contact

idw

More Information:

http://www.snf.ch

All latest news from the category: Life Sciences and Chemistry

Articles and reports from the Life Sciences and chemistry area deal with applied and basic research into modern biology, chemistry and human medicine.

Valuable information can be found on a range of life sciences fields including bacteriology, biochemistry, bionics, bioinformatics, biophysics, biotechnology, genetics, geobotany, human biology, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, cellular biology, zoology, bioinorganic chemistry, microchemistry and environmental chemistry.

Back to home

Comments (0)

Write a comment

Newest articles

Lighting up the future

New multidisciplinary research from the University of St Andrews could lead to more efficient televisions, computer screens and lighting. Researchers at the Organic Semiconductor Centre in the School of Physics and…

Researchers crack sugarcane’s complex genetic code

Sweet success: Scientists created a highly accurate reference genome for one of the most important modern crops and found a rare example of how genes confer disease resistance in plants….

Evolution of the most powerful ocean current on Earth

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current plays an important part in global overturning circulation, the exchange of heat and CO2 between the ocean and atmosphere, and the stability of Antarctica’s ice sheets….

Partners & Sponsors