Leveraging Comparative Genomics to Identify and Functionally Characterize Genes Associated with Sperm Phenotypes in Python bivittatus (Burmese Python)

Figure 4

(a) Venn diagram illustrating relationship of genes among phenotypes associated with mature sperm. Genes in each of the four mature sperm phenotypes gene sets (sperm number [7 genes], sperm motility [12 genes], sperm physiology [7 genes], and capacitation [3 genes]) were analyzed for overlap across the phenotypes. A total of 23 unique genes were distributed among the phenotypes with 7 genes being exclusive to sperm motility, an additional 7 genes were unique to the sperm number phenotype, 3 genes were specific to sperm physiology, and just a single gene was only associated with capacitation. Three genes were common between sperm motility and sperm physiology while just a single gene was found to be associated with both motility and capacitation. Interestingly, one gene was associated with the motility, physiology, and capacitation phenotypes. The majority of genes were unique to specific phenotypes. (b) Venn diagram illustrating relationship of genes among phenotypes associated with morphological phenotypes in sperm precursors. Genes in each of the three abnormal morphological phenotypes associated with spermatogonia [8 genes], spermatocytes [21 genes], and spermatids [28 genes] were analyzed for overlap across the distinct phenotypes. A total of 45 genes were distributed among the phenotypes with 22 unique to spermatids, 11 unique to spermatocytes, and just 2 genes unique to spermatogonia. Four genes were common among spermatids and spermatocytes while another four genes were common spermatocytes and spermatogonia. Only two genes were associated with all three phenotypes.

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