Characterization of sex chromosomes in three deeply diverged species of Pseudocrenilabrinae (Teleostei: Cichlidae)

Citation

Gammerdinger WJ, Conte MA, Sandkam BA, Penman DJ & Kocher TD (2019) Characterization of sex chromosomes in three deeply diverged species of Pseudocrenilabrinae (Teleostei: Cichlidae). Hydrobiologia, 832 (1), pp. 397-408. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-3778-6

Abstract
The African cichlid radiations have created thousands of new cichlid species with a wide diversity of trophic morphologies, behaviors, sensory systems, and pigment patterns. In addition, recent research has uncovered a surprising number of young sex chromosome systems within African cichlids. Here, we refine methods to describe the differentiation of young sex chromosomes from whole genome comparisons. We identified a novel XY sex chromosome system on linkage group 14 in Oreochromis mossambicus, confirmed a linkage group 1 XY system in Coptodon zillii, and also defined the limits of our methodology by examining a ZW system on linkage group 3 in Pelmatolapia mariae. These data further demonstrate that cichlids are an excellent model system for understanding the early stages of sex chromosome evolution.

Keywords
Sex chromosome evolution; Oreochromis mossambicus; Coptodon zillii; Pelmatolapia mariae

Journal
Hydrobiologia: Volume 832, Issue 1