Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lukas Scharer
Summary: Mitochondria, the cell's power stations, are inherited through eggs rather than sperm. In hermaphroditic plants, they can cause cytoplasmic male sterility by preventing the host from producing pollen and sperm. New evidence from hermaphroditic freshwater snails now confirms the presence of cytoplasmic male sterility in animals.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Melissa A. Toups, Beatriz Vicoso, John R. Pannell
Summary: Polyploidization can cause significant changes to the genome, including chromosome rearrangements, gene loss, and changes in gene expression. This study demonstrates that the allopolyploid plant Mercurialis canariensis directly inherited its sex-determining region from one of its diploid progenitor species and likely remained dioecious through the transition.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ryoji Shinya, Simo Sun, Mehmet Dayi, Isheng Jason Tsai, Atsushi Miyama, Anthony Fu Chen, Koichi Hasegawa, Igor Antoshechkin, Taisei Kikuchi, Paul W. Sternberg
Summary: The authors demonstrate that sex determination in Bursaphelenchus nematodes is likely regulated by a random, epigenetic mechanism, rather than the more well-known mechanisms of chromosomal or environmental sex determination.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ludivine Brunissen, Eli Rapoport, Katarzyna Chawarska, Andrew Adesman
Summary: This study found that girls with ASD are more likely to have gender expressions and behaviors during childhood that do not conform to traditional gender norms, and experience greater distress over gender-related concerns, highlighting the need for individualized support.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yiming Li, Yucong Ye, Na Rihan, Qichen Jiang, Xingguo Liu, Yunlong Zhao, Xuan Che
Summary: The study investigated the effects of exposure to 75-nm polystyrene nanoplastics on gonadal development in juvenile oriental river prawns. The results showed that higher concentrations of nanoplastics led to a decrease in crude lipid and crude protein levels, while ash and moisture levels remained unchanged. Additionally, the expression of gonad development-related genes and sex hormone levels initially increased and then decreased with increasing nanoplastic concentration. This study provides valuable information on the detrimental effects of nanoplastics on crustaceans.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Urology & Nephrology
Sandra M. Dumanski, Dag Eckersten, Giorgina Barbara Piccoli
Summary: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) often affects reproductive health in both males and females, resulting in abnormal menstruation, impaired sexual health, and reduced fertility. Gender and gendered experiences play significant roles in the reproductive health of individuals with CKD.
SEMINARS IN NEPHROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biology
Aivars Cirulis, Bengt Hansson, Jessica K. Abbott
Summary: This article provides an overview of the effects of sex-limited chromosomes on non-reproductive traits and discusses the evolutionary processes maintaining variation at sex-limited chromosomes and the molecular mechanisms affecting non-reproductive traits.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Summary: Due to ethical controversy, clinics are encouraged to develop and disclose their policies on preimplantation sex selection. Practitioners are not ethically obligated to provide or refuse nonmedically-indicated methods of sex selection.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Yeeun An, Chaeyoung Lee
Summary: In this study, a transcriptome-wide analysis was conducted to identify target genes associated with gender imbalance. The results suggest that these genes play important roles in sex determination and spermatogenesis.
COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Alice Mado Proverbio
Summary: Studies have found neuro-functional differences between male and female brains in various aspects of social cognition, particularly in emotional coding, face processing, and response to baby schema. These differences can be explained through the perspective of evolutionary psychobiology.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Siqi Zhang, Feng-Quan Tan, Ching -Hui Chung, Filip Slavkovic, Ravi Sureshbhai Devani, Christelle Troadec, Fabien Marcel, Halima Morin, Celine Camps, Maria Victoria Gomez Roldan, Moussa Benhamed, Catherine Dogimont, Adnane Boualem, Abdelhafid Bendahmane
Summary: A female-to-male transition mutant was discovered in melon, and the causal gene was identified as the carpel identity gene CRABS CLAW (CRC). The master regulator of sex determination, transcription factor WIP1, recruits the corepressor TOPLESS to suppress CRC expression, leading to male flower development. Impairing the physical interaction between TOPLESS and WIP1 results in CRC expression, carpel determination, and ultimately the development of female flowers.
Article
Agronomy
Akito Nashiki, Hiroki Matsuo, Kota Takano, Fauziatul Fitriyah, Sachiko Isobe, Kenta Shirasawa, Yosuke Yoshioka
Summary: This study reveals the unique sex expression of Japanese weedy melon, which involves interactions between previously reported sex determination genes and two novel loci. Sex expression plays a role in fruit quality and yield in melons. The findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of sex determination in melons and implications for the application of femaleness in melon breeding.
THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zeyu Cai, Congcong Yang, Jun Liao, Haifeng Song, Sheng Zhang
Summary: The study found that sex-biased gene expression in dioecious Salix paraplesia flowers is associated with different reproductive investments in unisexual flowers; male flowers require a greater reproductive investment to meet their higher biomass accumulation and energy consumption needs. This indicates that temporal variations in gene expression contribute to the sexual dimorphism observed in these plants, with sexually differentiated metabolites further corroborating these findings. The findings suggest that the molecular mechanisms underlying the morphology and reproductive costs of dioecious flowers are influenced by sex-biased genes related to various physiological processes.
HORTICULTURE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elzbieta Krzywinska, Luca Ferretti, Jianwei Li, Jian-Chiuan Li, Chun-Hong Chen, Jaroslaw Krzywinski
Summary: The evolutionary puzzle of insect sex determination and dosage compensation pathways has been mostly solved in Drosophila melanogaster, with only terminal genes in the pathway being well conserved. The doublesex (dsx) gene, an ancient sex-determining gene, is present in all studied species except lepidopterans. In Anopheles gambiae, the femaleless (fle) gene controls sex determination in females by regulating splicing of dsx and fruitless (fru) and represents a novel molecular link between sex determination and dosage compensation pathways, making it a potential target for genetic control of malaria vectors.
Editorial Material
Biology
Susanne S. Renner, Niels A. Mueller
Summary: This theme issue presents a series of articles that synthesize and challenge the current understanding of how plants achieve dioecy. The articles discuss a wide range of taxa and overarching topics, providing a comprehensive and thought-provoking exploration of the fascinating phenomenon of dioecy in plants.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Elferra M. Swart, Naima C. Starkloff, Sanne Ypenburg, Jacintha Ellers, Nico M. van Straalen, Joris M. Koene
INVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kees van Achterberg, Menno Schilthuizen, Marrit van der Meer, Richard Delval, Claudia Dias, Marlene Hoynck, Heko Koster, Rudie Maarschall, Norbert Peeters, Peter Venema, Ryan Zaremba, Cristina Beltrami, Florinda Nieuwenhuis, Nicole de Rop, Iva Njunjic, Joris M. Koene
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Istvan Fodor, Peter Urban, Gyorgy Kemenes, Joris M. Koene, Zsolt Pirger
INVERTEBRATE NEUROSCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Lea Daupagne, Joris M. Koene
Article
Zoology
Menno Schilthuizen, Wesley van Oostenbrugge, Stefan Visser, Marrit van der Meer, Richard Delval, Claudia Dias, Heko Koster, Rudie Maarschall, Norbert Peeters, Peter Venema, Ryan Zaremba, Cristina Beltrami, Marzia Rossato, Leonardo Latella, Florinda Nieuwenhuis, Nicole de Rop, Iva Njunjic, Michel Perreau, Joris M. Koene
Summary: Anthropogenic environmental change is causing distribution changes in many organisms, impacting both high conservation value species and cryptic species. In a citizen science expedition in Amsterdam, Netherlands, a study on the European Ptomaphagus sericatus species complex revealed three distinct species, with one previously undescribed. Some species, like P. medius, show signs of recent range changes, possibly due to human influence, with one even reaching North America.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Yumi Nakadera, Alice Thornton Smith, Lea Daupagne, Marie-Agnes Coutellec, Joris M. Koene, Steven A. Ramm
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biology
Istvan Fodor, Ahmed A. A. Hussein, Paul R. Benjamin, Joris M. Koene, Zsolt Pirger
Article
Neurosciences
Ahmed A. A. Hussein, El-Sayed Baz, Janine Marien, Menerva M. Tadros, Nahla S. El-Shenawy, Joris M. Koene
INVERTEBRATE NEUROSCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Nancy Dong, Julia Bandura, Zhaolei Zhang, Yan Wang, Karine Labadie, Benjamin Noel, Angus Davison, Joris M. Koene, Hong-Shuo Sun, Marie-Agnes Coutellec, Zhong-Ping Feng
Summary: This study utilized L. stagnalis genome and RNA-seq technology to identify 17,832 protein-coding transcripts, providing a comprehensive characterization of L. stagnalis transcriptome and insights into CNS transcript diversity and function of this species. Additionally, comparisons with other model organisms revealed similarities and evolutionary relationships of ion channels and receptors in L. stagnalis with vertebrates and invertebrates.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ahmed A. A. Hussein, Erik Bloem, Istvan Fodor, El-Sayed Baz, Menerva M. Tadros, Maha F. M. Soliman, Nahla S. El-Shenawy, Joris M. Koene
Summary: Seasonal changes in natural light conditions play a crucial role in regulating biological processes, but anthropogenic light pollution has been linked to negative effects on species' behaviors and physiological traits. Therefore, ecological light pollution has emerged as a significant threat to the regulation of various biological processes in animals, highlighting the need for further research.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Istvan Fodor, Zita Zrinyi, Reka Horvath, Peter Urban, Robert Herczeg, Gergely Buki, Joris M. Koene, Pei-San Tsai, Zsolt Pirger
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Zoology
Istvan Fodor, Joris M. Koene, Zsolt Pirger
Summary: In recent years, increasing evidence suggests that molluscs lack key genes required for vertebrate sex steroid biosynthesis and do not possess nuclear sex steroid receptors, indicating a clear distinction from the vertebrate endocrine system.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Beatriz Alvarez, Joris M. Koene, Karen L. Hollis, Ignacio Loy
Summary: Hermaphrodites can choose their sexual role in mating encounters and learning can enhance their ability to mate as a male or speed up the mating process.
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Beatriz alvarez, Joris M. Koene
Summary: Genetic variation and cognitive processes are both crucial for organisms to adapt to changing environments. While genetic variation operates over generations, cognitive processes can lead to flexible and reversible responses in a shorter time scale. In the field of sexual conflict research, the importance of cognition in optimizing mating strategies has been overlooked. However, behavioral studies show that animals can develop and modify their responses based on perception and experience, which can greatly impact reproductive success.
FRONTIERS IN INTEGRATIVE NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
El-Sayed Baz, Ahmed A. A. Hussein, Edith M. T. Vreeker, Maha F. M. Soliman, Menerva M. Tadros, Nahla S. El-Shenawy, Joris M. Koene
Summary: The present study investigates the effects of artificial light at night (ALAN) on reproduction, hatching success, developmental success, growth rate, feeding rate, mortality rate, and locomotor activity of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. The results show that ALAN significantly affects the cumulative number of laid eggs, size of eggs, development and hatching of eggs, feeding rate, growth rate, and locomotor activity of the snails. The findings indicate that ALAN may disturb the ecological stability by influencing the abundance and behavior of snails.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)