Scientists have turned the male mouse in the female, using "junk" DNA
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Despite the rapid development of medicine, many things about the human body we still don't know. For example, of biology course it is known that the two X chromosomes in the genome of the embryo will bring the girl, while one X and one Y boy, but about the processes that govern it, scientists don't have a clue. However, a recent study of "junk" DNA has led to a rather interesting result: the genetics, not affecting the sex chromosomes, was able to change the gender of a laboratory mouse.
About an unusual experiment, writes the editorial Board of the journal Science, the discovery belongs to the team led by Robin Lowell-Badge, from the Institute of Francis Crick in London. Scientists have found that for "run program sexual development" answer 2 gene: Sox9 and Sry. The first one makes preparations of germ cells, future sex organs, and the second «start» when gender of the embryo is fully formed. Moreover, if damage to Sry, that «» the embryos become males.
In the course of further study was discovered a segment of "junk" DNA near the Sox9 gene, called Enh13. It causes cell proteins to decipher the part of the chromosome, inside of which is Sox9, which increases its activity and a "male" fetus. Further, the experts had the experience that when they crossed two mice, one species of which had damaged Enh13, and the second is serviceable. During the development of embryos some of them were females and some males. After that, the scientists deactivated the remaining working gene Enh13. In the end, all the males have lost the male genitals and "grown" woman. All mice born were female, although at the time of pregnancy it was not so.
Thus, scientists came to the conclusion that many of the violations in the sexual development of mammals can be caused by mutations in the above genes and "junk" DNA, since it is not always sexual deviation are accompanied by damage of germ cells.
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