Sex Determination and Gonad Development: From Mechanism to Application

Dear Colleagues,

Sex determination and gonad development are critically important for the continuity of species with reproduction. How the primordial germ cells (PGCs) and the bipotential gonadal primordium develop into either an ovary or testis that produces egg or sperm cells, respectively, is still a fascinating question. Current studies have shown that the developmental processes and regulatory mechanisms underlying this basic biological process are highly diverse and complex across different species. Both genetic factors (sex-determining genes, etc.) and environmental factors (temperature, photoperiod, etc.) contribute to sex determination and differentiation in varying degrees depending on species. Multilevel regulation mechanisms including genetics, epigenetic modification, transcriptional regulation, translational regulation, post-translational modification, RNA metabolism, and neuroendocrine regulation have been implicated in the processes of sex determination and gonad development. Recently, the rapid progress of omics research, such as single-cell RNA-seq, metabonomics, and so on, has provided plenty of valuable data and opportunities to push the field forward. It is for this reason that we have decided to set up this Special Issue on “Sex Determination and Gonad Development: From Mechanism to Application”, edited by Professor Daji Luo. The aim and scope include but are not limited to the evolutionary origin of sexual differentiation, the molecular and cellular mechanisms controlling gonad development and gametogenesis, the biological functions of sex-related genes, agricultural animal sex-controlled breeding, the artificial reproduction of economic and endangered species, and human reproductive health and disorders. Research and review papers on all aspects of sex determination and gonad development are welcomed. We would like to thank all colleagues for their contributions to the scientific community!

Prospective authors should first send a short abstract or tentative title to the Editorial Office. If the editors deem the topic to be appropriate for inclusion in the Special Issue, the author will be encouraged to submit a full manuscript.

Prof. Dr. Daji Luo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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