Data from: Identification of genomic regions associated with sex in Pacific halibut

Understanding and identifying the genetic mechanisms responsible for sex-determination are important for species management, particularly in exploited fishes where sex biased harvest could have implications on population dynamics and long-term persistence. The Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) supports important fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean. The proportion of each sex in the annual harvest is currently estimated using growth curves, but genetic techniques may provide a more accurate method. We used restriction-site associated DNA (RAD) sequencing to identify RAD-tags that were linked to genetic sex, based on differentiation (FST) between the sexes. Identified RAD-tags were aligned to the Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) linkage map, the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) genome, and the half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) genome to identify genomic regions that may be involved in sex determination. In total, 56 RAD-tags (70 single nucleotide polymorphisms) were linked to sex, and three RAD-tags were identified in only females. Sex-linked loci aligned to three linkage groups in the Atlantic halibut (LG07: 7 loci, LG15: 1 locus, and LG24: 1 locus), three chromosomes in the turbot (LG12: 13 loci, LG01: 1 locus, and LG05: 1 locus), and one chromosome in the half-smooth tongue sole (ChrZ: 9 loci). Results add support to the hypothesis that Pacific halibut genetic sex is determined in a ZW system. Two sex-linked loci were further developed into sex identification assays, and their efficacy was tested on individuals that had been morphologically sexed. The accuracy of each assay on its own was 97.5% compared to morphological sex.解析并鉴定参与性别决定的遗传机制，对于物种管理具有重要意义，尤其针对受开发利用的鱼类——此类种群若存在性别偏向性捕捞，可能会对种群动态及长期存续产生影响。太平洋庸鲽（*Hippoglossus stenolepis*）是北太平洋重要的渔业捕捞对象。当前年度捕捞渔获的性别比例多通过生长曲线估算，而遗传技术或可提供更为精准的估算方案。本研究借助限制性酶切位点相关DNA（restriction-site associated DNA, RAD）测序技术，基于雌雄个体间的遗传分化系数（FST）筛选与遗传性别相关联的RAD标签（RAD-tags）。将筛选得到的RAD标签比对至大西洋庸鲽（*Hippoglossus hippoglossus*）连锁图谱、大菱鲆（*Scophthalmus maximus*）基因组及半滑舌鳎（*Cynoglossus semilaevis*）基因组，以定位可能参与性别决定的基因组区域。共计56个RAD标签（对应70个单核苷酸多态性位点）与性别相关联，其中3个RAD标签仅在雌性个体中被检测到。性别关联位点分别比对至大西洋庸鲽的3个连锁群（LG07：7个位点、LG15：1个位点、LG24：1个位点）、大菱鲆的3条染色体（LG12：13个位点、LG01：1个位点、LG05：1个位点）以及半滑舌鳎的1条染色体（ChrZ：9个位点）。本研究结果支持太平洋庸鲽的遗传性别由ZW型性别决定系统调控这一假说。研究人员进一步将2个性别关联位点开发为性别鉴定检测体系，并利用经形态学鉴定性别的个体对其检测效能进行验证。单一检测体系的性别鉴定准确率达97.5%，与形态学性别鉴定结果一致性良好。