Bluehead Wrasse Transition (VIDEO)

University of Otago

Caption

A female becomes a male: a transitioning bluehead wrasse (darker coloration) establishes dominance and begins courting females (yellow coloration). A University of Otago-led study is heralding advances in our understanding of one of the most startling transformations in the natural world -- the complete reversal of sex that occurs in about 500 species of fish. Using the latest genetic approaches, high-throughput RNA-sequencing and epigenetic analyses, the researchers discovered when and how specific genes are turned off and on in the brain and gonad so that sex change can occur.

Credit

John Godwin and William Tyler

Usage Restrictions

None

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.