Experiencing short heat waves early in development changes thermal responsiveness of turtle embryos to later heat waves

Although physiological responses to the thermal environment are most frequently investigated using constant temperatures, the incorporation of thermal variability can allow for a more accurate prediction of how thermally sensitive species respond to a rapidly changing climate. In species with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), developmental responses to incubation temperature are mediated by several genes involved in gonadal differentiation. Kdm6b and Dmrt1 respond to cool incubation temperatures and are associated with testis development, while Foxl2 and Cyp19A1 respond to warm incubation temperatures and are associated with ovary development. Using fluctuating incubation temperatures, we designed two studies, one investigating how conflicting thermal cues affect the timing of commitment to gonadal development, and another investigating the rapid molecular responses to conflicting thermal cues in the red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta). Using gene expression as a pr..., , , # Experiencing short heat waves early in development changes thermal responsiveness of turtle embryos to later heat waves

## Description of the Data and file structure

Each data file (one for each of the two studies) has gene expression values obtained from biological samples from multiple genes. Each data file also has information on the treatment and sampling point of each individual analysed in both studies.

Rapid response study data column headers:

* Egg number: identifies individual T. scripta embryos used in study
* Experiment: shows which gene is being analyzed
* Treatment: shows whether or not individuals were exposed to heat wave
* Stage: shows which embryonic stage individual was sampled at
* Day: shows day of incubation that individual was sampled on
* Gapdh: expression (CT) for house keeping gene
* Dmrt1: expression of Dmrt1 gene
* Kdm6bGe: expression of Kdm6b general (both splicing variants)
* Kdm6bUp3: expression of Kdm6b(-IR)
* Kdm6b(+IR): expression of Kdm6b(+IR)
* D...