Determination of sex through genes in a major sex locus in Drosophila Melanogaster

Abstract

HEREDITARY control of sex had first support when unequal chromosomes were shown to be directly correlated with the sex of an individual or its progeny. Over the years no specific sex loci could be located within these chromosomes, however. Polyploid types within Drosophila showed that the sex chromosomes were not the only factors. Sex determination appeared to rest rather on a balance between the sex chromosomes and the autosomes. In Drosophila the X chromosomes operated by pushing the organism toward the female type, the autosomes pressed toward the male type. The Y chromosome had little effect. Loci for major sex genes utilising the intersex types as test agents were sought but again in no clear-cut instance were they found. In the interim major sex genes appeared through observed mutational types. Sturtevant (1920, 1921) in D. simulans isolated a gene in the second chromosome which could convert diploid females to intersexuals, and rendered males sterile. Phenotypically these intersexuals were femalelike in that they lacked sex combs, had 7 dorsal abdominal tergites, ovipositor of abnormal form, 2 spermathece and lacked the penis. They were male-like in having first genital tergite although abnormal in form, lateral anal plates, claspers, black pigmented tip to the abdomen. The gonads were rudimentary. The gene, as was expected since it was recessive, had no effect on D. simulans ymelanogaster hybrids.

CYTOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF CHROMOSOME 3 IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER: MAPPING OF THE PROXIMAL PORTION OF THE RIGHT ARM

“…As has already been pointed out (see RESULTS), our results confirm the conclusion of DENELL and JACKSON (1972) that the Hermaphrodite ( H r ) gene, which was in turn deemed a dominant allele of transformer (tra) ( GOWEN and FUNG 1957), is actually a dominant allele of double sex. None of our dsxD revertants show any interaction with tra, yet they all fail to complement dsx.…”

The sexual identity of adult intestinal stem cells controls organ size and plasticity

“…tra 1 , FRT2A, fru P1 -Gal4 chromosome (generated by 42 ), FRT82b, dsx 1 chromosome (generated by 43 ), dsx Δ , Df(3R) Exel6179 chromosome (generated by 44 ), Df(3R)dsx 11 (BDSC: 1865, generated by 45 ), In(3R)dsx 23 (BDSC: 1849, generated by 46 ), FRT82b, dsx 1 , fru Δtra chromosome (gift from B. Baker, generated by 47 ), dsx 1 , fru P1-LexA chromosome (gift from B. Prud’homme, generated by 48 ), tra KO (this study), Df(3L) st-j7 (BDSC:5416, generated by 49 ), tra 1 (BDSC: 675, generated by 50 ), tra2 B (BDSC: 25137, generated by 51 ), Df(2R) trix (BDSC:1896, generated by 52 ), tra2 ts1 (BDSC: 2413, generated by 52 ), dsx D (BDSC: 840, generated by 53 , fru F and fru M (gift from G. Jefferis, generated by 47 , fru 4-40 (gift from G. Jefferis, generated by 54 ), FRT82b, DI RevF10 chromosome (gift from S. Bray, generated by 55 ), Su(H) Δ47 , FRT40A chromosome (gift from S. Bray, generated by 56 ), FRT82B Apc2 N175K , Apc Q8 chromosome and hs-flp;UAS-Ras V12 ; FRT82B Apc2 N175K , Apc Q8 line (both generated by 41 ).…”

Haploid intersexes in the wasp Habrobracon

“…The question arises as to the relation of intersexuality genes to sex determination. This has been discussed at length elsewhere (see for instance, Gowen andFung, 1957, andGoldschmidt, 1955, pp. 9o-4 and 448-451) and is beyond the scope of this paper. It is possible that the intersex gene in Habrobracon suppresses or releases to a certain degree the action or complementary activity of the sex locus.…”

“…The precedent for a mutation of this type is seen in the following mutations : ix and torn (renamed ix2, Meyer, 1958) on the second chromosome and Hr and tra on the third chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster; JxB on the second chromosome and Lebedeff's recessive on the third chromosome of D. virilis ; Sturtevant's recessive intersex mutation in D. sirnulans; and Dobzhansky and Spassky's dominant intersex in D. pseudoobscura (reviewed in part by Kroeger, 1959, and in part by Gowen and Fung, 1957). In every case genetic females are transformed toward or into phenotypic males.…”