American scientists, studying the DNA of scarab beetles, have discovered an interesting gene. With the help of certain manipulations with it, it was possible to change the sex of the insect embryos.
The discovered gene is responsible for the development of sexual characteristics in males and females. In the formation of a living organism, it is very important, since it affects the development of all other systems. It has long been known that sex chromosomes affect the sex of mammals, birds and other representatives of the animal world. So, for example, if there are two X chromosomes in a human embryo, then there will be a girl, and if one chromosome is X, and the second Y, then a boy. But scientists did not know exactly where the genes that affect gender are located.
Experiments with beetles have been brought closer to the answer. Biologists examined the genes of the embryos and found that only one DSX gene affects sexual development. They were familiar with this gene, but they did not even imagine that it could influence the development of thousands of other DNA regions. This gene works throughout the insect's life and actually "orchestrates" the rest, which are turned on at certain stages of development. The gene turns off unnecessary parts of DNA, for example, female beetles do not grow horns, and turns on others.
Scientists turned off this gene, which led to the emergence of hermaphrodites. Both females and males of scarab beetles were outwardly similar. They also had dual sex characteristics. Then the geneticists changed the structure of the DSX. This made it possible to independently program and change the sex of the embryo.
Scientists suggest that the DNA of humans and other animals works by a similar mechanism. The search for this gene in human DNA was a new task for scientists.