Histone

Gene

Cell biology

Ecology

Biology

Epigenetics

Demethylase

Promoter activity

Promoter

DNA methylation

Turtle (robot)

Genetics

Histone methylation

Gene expression

Science

Making males and back again Temperature-dependent sex determination occurs in many reptilian species. An epigenetic mechanism is presumed to be at work, but thus far it has not been identified. Ge et al. show that in the red-eared slider turtle, an epigenetic modifier, the histone demethylase KDM6B, binds to the promoter of the dominant male gene to activate male development (see the Perspective by Georges and Holleley). Knock down the expression of KDM6B, and embryos destined to be male turn into females. Science , this issue p. 645 ; see also p. 601

The histone demethylase KDM6B regulates temperature-dependent sex determination in a turtle species