A recent discovery sheds light on how and why temperatures determine the 𝑠e𝑥 of turtles

This discovery could explain why numerous species besides turtles exhibit temperature-dependent 𝑠e𝑥 determination, a seemingly precarious reproductive strategy that nonetheless endures. Moreover, this revelation could indicate worrying future implications in the context of global warming.

What the researchers found, as published on June 23 in the journal Current Biology, is that the number of “germ cells” — pre-eggs — that an embryo carries is increased by higher incubation temperatures. In fact, they found that those germ cells themselves play a role in the embryo becoming female.

“Sex determination by temperature isn’t just one mechanism,” said senior author Blanche Capel, the James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Cell Biology in the Duke School of Medicine. “Higher temperatures seem to affect 𝑠e𝑥 determination in incremental ways through multiple cell types in the embryo.”