Gene that keeps women 'female'
December 11th, 2009
Scientists have located the gene that keeps women ‘female’ and could pave the way for the creation of drugs that will delay the menopause. Scientists reported in the journal Cell that only one gene, FoxL2 prevents adult ovary cells from turning into cells found in testes. The FoxL2 gene however, is on an autosomal chromosome, so both males and females have the gene.
FoxL2 represses a DNA element called TESCO, that in turn regulates the expression of the gene Sox9; the testes promoting gene that makes early gonads become testes rather than ovaries. It is now believed that these genes can also perform the same task in adults, therefore FoxL2 is important in keeping Sox9 turned off in ovaries throughout life.
The finding is helping to understand the condition of early menopause and could one day lead to the creation of a drug that could delay the menopause and preserve a woman’s ‘stock of eggs’. It also highlights the fact that sex is not solely determined by X and Y chromosomes. Therefore it could also remove the need for surgery in sex-change operations as this finding creates an ability to turn ovaries into testes.
The full article can be found here
Posted by Verity Leach
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