A comprehensive study of sex differentiation gonochoric and hermaphroditic fishes, this book examines sex chromosomes and sex determining genes, emphasizing the need to search for more than one sex-determining gene residing on different chromosomes. It traces the origin of hermaphrodites from secondary gonochores and explains the conservation of homologous sex differentiation and steroid receptor genes among gonochores and hermaphrodites. The author identifies the optimal broodstock size and the appropriate candidate species for bait. He shows that the analysis of steriles and mutants has demonstrated the value of fishes as a system for genetic dissection of human development and diseases.

Contents

Introduction

Sex Determination

Hermaphroditism

Patterns of Sex Differentiation

Impact of New Techniques

Differentiation in Gonochores

Sex Chromosomes

Sex Determining Genes

Sex Differentiation Genes

Sex Steroid Receptor Genes

Gonadal Differentiation

Model Fshes

Genetic Cascades

Gonadal Ducts

Puberty and Maturation

Acrosomeless Sperm and Micropylar Eggs

Secondary Sex Characters

Morphotypes and Differentiation

Reproductive Senescence

Stem Cells and Germ Cells

Differentiation in Hermaphrodites

Patterns of Hermaphroditism

Simultaneous Hermaphrodites

Sex Changing Hermaphrodites

Structural and Temporal Costs

Sex Chromosomes and Genes

Sex Differentiation Genes

Gonadal Differentiation

Morphotypes and Differentiation

Strelity and Mutants

Gonadectomy

Abnormals and Steriles

Mutants