Male mice can grow female organs — if their mothers lack iron
Nature Podcast
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4.4 • 859 Ratings
🗓️ 4 June 2025
⏱️ 32 minutes
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Summary
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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