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Male mice can grow female organs — if their mothers lack iron

2025/6/4

Nature Podcast

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People

Benjamin Thompson

Dan Fox

Javier Basurto

Julie Gould

Mitchell Lay

Nick Pettichow

Nicole Franz

Rachel Fieldhouse

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Benjamin Thompson: 长期以来，人们认为遗传在哺乳动物的性别决定中起着关键作用，但新的研究表明，外部因素（如铁）也可能发挥作用，这意味着性别决定可能不仅仅由基因控制。我认为这项研究非常重要，因为它挑战了我们对性别决定的传统认知，并为我们理解生物学中的复杂相互作用开辟了新的途径。 Rachel Fieldhouse: 通常，哺乳动物的性别在发育过程中由特定基因决定，例如小鼠的SRY基因。此前的研究表明，组蛋白去甲基化酶参与激活SRY，因此在性别决定中起作用。这种酶需要铁来激活SRY。研究人员通过操纵铁水平发现，缺铁会导致一些具有XY染色体的小鼠出现雌性性征。虽然铁的摄入和代谢是影响性别决定的因素之一，但情况比我们想象的要复杂得多。作为一名记者，我发现这项研究的结果非常引人注目，因为它揭示了环境因素在生物学中的重要性，并提醒我们生物系统是复杂且相互关联的。

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A new study reveals that iron deficiency during pregnancy in mice can lead to female offspring despite the presence of male sex genes (XY chromosomes). This challenges the traditional view of sex determination being solely genetic, suggesting that environmental factors also play a crucial role.

Iron deficiency in pregnant mice disrupts an enzyme needed for the activation of the SRY gene, crucial for male sex organ development.
Some mice born from mothers with iron deficiency had female sexual characteristics, even with XY chromosomes.
The study highlights the potential interplay between genetics and environment in sex determination.

Shownotes Transcript

00:45 Iron’s role in mice sex determination

Iron deficiency in mice mothers can sometimes result in their offspring developing female sex organs despite having male sex genes, according to new research. While genetics has been thought to be the primary factor in determining offspring sex in mammals, the new work shows that a lack of iron disrupts an enzyme involved in the development of testes, leading to some mice with male sex-determining genes being born with female genitalia and ovaries. This suggests that sex determination is controlled by more than genetics, but more work will need to be done to understand the precise mechanisms involved.

News: Male mice can grow ovaries if their pregnant mums are iron deficient)

Research article: Okashita et al.)

06:31 Research Highlights

How climate change is making dust storms more likely, and understanding the genetics of a boy who couldn’t feel pain.

Research Highlight: The perfect storm for dust storms, thanks to global warming)

Research Highlight: CRISPR helps to show why a boy felt no pain)

08:51 The role of small-scale fishers in sustainability

The contributions that small-scale fishers make to sustainable fishing have been described as ‘invisible’, but now a huge research project has revealed the role this community plays in feeding populations and protecting oceans. Looking at data from 58 countries, researchers have shown that small-scale fishers account for around 40% of the global catch and feed approximately 25% of the world’s population. The people behind the initiative hope that these data can help give a voice to small-scale fishers as people look for ways to feed the world sustainably.

Immersive : Small-scale fisheries)

19:44 Briefing Chat

The discovery of an ‘ambidextrous’ protein; and why humpback whales, despite their enormous eyes, appear to be shortsighted.

Nature: Rare ‘ambidextrous’ protein breaks rules of handedness)

Discover Magazine: Big Eyes, Blurry Vision: Why Humpback Whales Struggle to See Clearly)

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