[Nouvelle Publication] Decoding the shared genetic toolkit for male sex determination

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen and from the Station Biologique de Roscoff  broke new ground by demonstrating that an HMG-box gene in brown algae is crucial for determining male sex. This breakthrough significantly expands our understanding of sex-determination mechanisms in eukaryotic organisms. Until now, master sex-determination genes had been identified in only a select number of vertebrates and plants. Published in Science, this study illuminates the evolutionary parallels in developmental pathways between animals and seaweeds, despite their millions of years of independent evolution. It highlights the recurrent use of a shared genetic ‘toolkit’ across distant lineages for vital biological functions. Beyond offering deeper insights into brown algae's reproductive biology, this research explores distant evolutionary convergences.

https://www.tuebingen.mpg.de/215160/news_publication_21728553_transferred?c=84411

Original publication

Luthringer R.; Raphalen M.; Guerra C., Colin S.; Martinho C.; Zheng M.; Hoshino M. Badis Y.; Linpinska A.P.; Haas F.B.; Barrera-Redondo J.; Alva V.; Coelho S.M.

Repeated co-option of HMG-box genes for sex determination in brown algae and animals.

Science Vol. 383 (iss.6689) (22 March 2024)