Molecular Aspects of Sex Determination in Mice: An Alternative Model for the Origin of the Sxr Region

Using a combination of in situ mapping and DNA analysis with recombinant DNA probes specific for the Sxr region of the mouse Y chromosome, we show that both the gene(s) controlling primary sex determination and the expression of the male-specific antigen H-Y (Tdy and Hya respectively) are located on the minute short arm of the mouse Y chromosome. We demonstrate that the H-Y^- variant of Sxr (Sxr') arose by a partial deletion within the Sxr region and propose an alternative model for the generation of the original Sxr region.