PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Disorders of sex development (DSD) are a diverse group of conditions affecting gonadal development, sexual differentiation, or chromosomal sex. In this review, we will discuss recent literature on the genetic causes of DSD, with a focus on novel genetic sequencing technologies, new phenotypes associated with known DSD genes, and increasing recognition of the role of genetic regulatory elements in DSD. RECENT FINDINGS: We performed a comprehensive search of PubMed through August 2016 to identify important peer-reviewed publications from 2015 to 2016 on the topic of DSD genetics. SUMMARY: Whole-exome sequencing was used to successfully identify genetic causes of DSD in 35% of a cohort of 46,XY patients who had not previously received a genetic diagnosis. A novel mutation in NR5A1 has been identified as a cause of 46,XX testicular and ovotesticular DSD, demonstrating a previously unappreciated role of NR5A1 in preventing testicular differentiation in 46,XX individuals. Genetic regulatory elements of SOX9 have been identified as causes of 46,XX and 46,XY DSD.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Disorders of sex development (DSD) are a diverse group of conditions affecting gonadal development, sexual differentiation, or chromosomal sex. In this review, we will discuss recent literature on the genetic causes of DSD, with a focus on novel genetic sequencing technologies, new phenotypes associated with known DSD genes, and increasing recognition of the role of genetic regulatory elements in DSD. RECENT FINDINGS: We performed a comprehensive search of PubMed through August 2016 to identify important peer-reviewed publications from 2015 to 2016 on the topic of DSD genetics. SUMMARY: Whole-exome sequencing was used to successfully identify genetic causes of DSD in 35% of a cohort of 46,XY patients who had not previously received a genetic diagnosis. A novel mutation in NR5A1 has been identified as a cause of 46,XX testicular and ovotesticular DSD, demonstrating a previously unappreciated role of NR5A1 in preventing testicular differentiation in 46,XX individuals. Genetic regulatory elements of SOX9 have been identified as causes of 46,XX and 46,XY DSD.
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Authors: A H Sinclair; P Berta; M S Palmer; J R Hawkins; B L Griffiths; M J Smith; J W Foster; A M Frischauf; R Lovell-Badge; P N Goodfellow Journal: Nature Date: 1990-07-19 Impact factor: 49.962