Current knowledge of sexual differentiation in domestic fowl

Abstract

An ability to alter the sex ratio could be enormously beneficial to the poultry industry. As a consequence, there has been increasing scientific interest in avian sex determination and sexual differentiation. Recent progress in avian cytogenetics and molecular biology has enhanced understanding of the mechanisms involved. Surgical and endocrinological techniques have been used to reverse sexual differentiation. Mixed sex chimeras, containing both male and female derived cells and produced by embryo engineering, can be used as a novel model for sexual differentiation. A combination of new knowledge and the refinement of techniques could open up new frontiers for the advancement of our understanding of sexual regulation in poultry.

Keywords:

• Differentiation
• domestic fowl
• embryo engineering
• control
• mixed sex chimeras
• molecular biology
• reversal
• sex