Nature Science Update
Hermaphrodite finch hints genes mould brain
Sex chromosomes split personality in bird possessing testis and ovary.
25 March 2003
JOHN WHITFIELD
A half-male, half-female bird has added to evidence that genes - not only
hormones - underlie the differences between male and female brains.
The cells on the right half of the bird's body contained male sex chromosomes,
those on the left, female. The zebra finch had one testis and one ovary; its
plumage was bright on its right half, and drab on its left.
It also had a split personality. When ornithologist John Wingfield and his
colleagues looked at the bird's brain, they saw that it, too, was divided into
male and female sides.
The areas that control singing were bigger on the male side. Male finches court
mates with loud and complex songs; females are quieter.
Full text
http://www.nature.com/nsu/030324/030324-1.html
References
Agate, R. J. et al. Neural, not gonadal, origin of brain sex differences
in a gynandromorphic finch. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
(2003).
http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0636925100
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
|