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Sex determination in the genus Oreochromis

1. Sex reversal, gynogenesis and triploidy in O. niloticus (L.)

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Summary

Established techniques of genetic manipulation were used to elucidate sex-determining mechanisms in the commercially important tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Analysis of sex ratios from single-pair matings of normal broodstock showed these to be heterogeneous, with an asymmetrical frequency distribution. Data were homogeneous, with the exclusion of a number of broods with sex ratios not significantly different from 3∶1 (male: female), and further progeny testing revealed atypical female heterogamety in the parents of these broods. Analysis of sex ratios from complete diallele-type crosses using five males and five females demonstrated no association between male parent, female parent and progeny sex ratio. Sex ratios of gynogens (0∶1) and triploids (1∶1), and from progeny testing of sex-reversed males (0∶1) and sex-reversed females (3∶1), provide evidence for female homogamety in this species. Progeny testing of male gynogens derived from sex-reversed females demonstrated recombination between the centromere and the sex-determining locus (68.9%). Novel YY “supermales” were shown to be viable and produced all-male offspring. It was concluded that this species exhibits monofactorial, genotypic sex determination with male heterogamety. However, rare autosomal or environmental sex-modifying factors may account for occasional deviations from expected sex ratios.

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Author notes

  1. G. C. Mair

    Present address: FAC/CLSU-UCS Tilapia Genetics Project, Freshwater Aquaculture Center, Central Luzon State University, 3120, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, The Philippines

  2. A. G. Scott

    Present address: Department of Pure and Applied Biology, University of Reading, Aquatic Biology Research Unit, P.O. Box 228, RG6 2AJ, Reading, Berkshire, UK

  3. D. J. Penman

    Present address: Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA, Stirling, Scotland, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, University College of Swansea, SA2 8PP, Swansea, UK

    G. C. Mair, A. G. Scott, D. J. Penman, J. A. Beardmore & D. O. F. Skibinski

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  1. G. C. Mair
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  2. A. G. Scott
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  3. D. J. Penman
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  4. J. A. Beardmore
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  5. D. O. F. Skibinski
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Communicated by K. Sittmann

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Mair, G.C., Scott, A.G., Penman, D.J. et al. Sex determination in the genus Oreochromis . Theoret. Appl. Genetics 82, 144–152 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00226205

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00226205

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