Transgender algae reveal evolutionary origin of sexes
Tuesday, July 8, 2014 - 20:32
in Biology & Nature
Throughout evolution, living things have repeatedly developed physically distinct sexes, but how does this actually happen? A discovery in the multicellular green alga, Volvox carteri, has revealed the genetic origin of male and female sexes, showing how they evolved from a more primitive mating system in a single-celled relative. A team of scientists identified the master regulatory gene for sex determination in Volvox.