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Volume 49 Issue 1, January 2020

Sex determination in sea urchins

Sea urchins, such as the Paracentrotus lividus individual gracing our cover this month, have a long history as a lab animal. They’re of socioeconomic and ecological importance, and despite their outward appearance, they are among the most closely related invertebrates to humans. But looking at that sea urchin sitting on the cover—is it male…or is it female? By sight alone it’s impossible to tell, but sex determination can be a necessity for different experiments. Figuring it out used to involve dissection or invasive measures to induce spawning. A new Comment presents a non-lethal option that also reduces the number of animals needed to make the determination

See Paredes and Costas

Image: Reef and Aquarium Photography / Alamy Stock Photo. Cover design: Erin Dewalt

Volume 49 Issue 1

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In This Issue

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Protocol Review

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Comment

  • Many studies have reported on the identification of ‘essential genes’ in mice, but the context of the experimental model, including genetic background and specific molecular details of the allele, may impact the influence of alleles on viability.

    • Susan M. Bello
    • Melissa L. Berry
    • Cynthia L. Smith
    Comment
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Technology Feature

  • Applying the molecular scissors to animals at scale is helping researchers delve into the potential roles of different genes.

    • Ellen P. Neff

    Collection:

    Technology Feature
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Research Highlights

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