Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Publication Date
5-2020
Publisher
American Genetic Association
Source Publication
Journal of Heredity
Source ISSN
0022-1503
Abstract
Squamate reptiles (lizards, snakes, and amphibians) are an outstanding group for studying sex chromosome evolution—they are old, speciose, geographically widespread, and exhibit myriad sex-determining modes. Yet, the vast majority of squamate species lack heteromorphic sex chromosomes. Cataloging the sex chromosome systems of species lacking easily identifiable, heteromorphic sex chromosomes, therefore, is essential before we are to fully understand the evolution of vertebrate sex chromosomes. Here, we use restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) to classify the sex chromosome system of the granite night lizard, Xantusia henshawi. RADseq is an effective alternative to traditional cytogenetic methods for determining a species’ sex chromosome system (i.e., XX/XY or ZZ/ZW), particularly in taxa with non-differentiated sex chromosomes. Although many xantusiid lineages have been karyotyped, none possess heteromorphic sex chromosomes. We identified a ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system in X. henshawi—the first such data for this family. Furthermore, we report that the X. henshawi sex chromosome contains fragments of genes found on Gallus gallus chromosomes 7, 12, and 18 (which are homologous to Anolis carolinensis chromosome 2), the first vertebrate sex chromosomes to utilize this linkage group.
Recommended Citation
Nielsen, Stuart V.; Pinto, Brendan John; Guzmán-Méndez, Irán Andira; and Gamble, Tony, "First Report of Sex Chromosomes in Night Lizards (Scincoidea: Xantusiidae)" (2020). Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 796.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bio_fac/796
Comments
Accepted version. Journal of Heredity, Vol. 111, No. 3 (May 2020): 307-313. DOI. © 2020 The American Genetic Association. Used with permission.