Conservation of Sex-Linked Markers Among Conspecific Populations of a Viviparous Skink, Niveoscincus Ocellatus, Exhibiting Genetic and Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination

Overview

Journal Genome Biol Evol

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialties Biology
Genetics
Molecular Biology

Date 2018 Apr 17

PMID 29659810

Citations 28

Authors

Peta L Hill

Christopher P Burridge

Tariq Ezaz

Erik Wapstra

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Sex determination systems are exceptionally diverse and have undergone multiple and independent evolutionary transitions among species, particularly reptiles. However, the mechanisms underlying these transitions have not been established. Here, we tested for differences in sex-linked markers in the only known reptile that is polymorphic for sex determination system, the spotted snow skink, Niveoscincus ocellatus, to quantify the genomic differences that have accompanied this transition. In a highland population, sex is determined genetically, whereas in a lowland population, offspring sex ratio is influenced by temperature. We found a similar number of sex-linked loci in each population, including shared loci, with genotypes consistent with male heterogamety (XY). However, population-specific linkage disequilibrium suggests greater differentiation of sex chromosomes in the highland population. Our results suggest that transitions between sex determination systems can be facilitated by subtle genetic differences.

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