ATM LOCUS

Sex determination is a key physiological process of reproduction, essential to the life cycle. The Molluscs belong to the Lophotrochozoa, an important group of the Bilateria, poorly documented on this physiological mechanism.

This project aims to understand the sex determination in 2 Molluscs, the oyster Crassostrea gigas and the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis. These organisms are two species of economic importance, which exhibit very different life cycles and breeding patterns, reflecting the diversity of their phylum.

The objective of this project is to locate, for the 1st time in these molluscs, by karyotyping and Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) on chromosomes, known and well-conserved sex-determining genes of the male and of the female cascade. This comparative approach will help understanding sex determination in an evolutionary perspective.

Current program:
For 12 months

Funds come from "Actions Transversales du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle"