Sex-linked inheritance of the lf locus in the medaka fish (Oryzias latipes)

The If (leucophore free) locus was previously reported autosomal recessive in the medaka fish (Oryzias latipes). However, extensive linkage analyses in this study using various strains revealed that the if locus was closely sex-linked. The recombination frequency between if and the male determining factor (y) was 2.2% (10 recombinants out of 464 progeny). Because the lf/lf homozygous fish do not have visible leucophores, they are distinguishable from wild type in early developmental stages. In the Qurt strain with heterozygous sex chromosomes (X-lf/X-lf in females and X-lf/Y+ in males), we can predict sex of each embryo on second day after fertilization. The strain should be a very useful material for studying sex determination or differentiation mechanisms in the medaka fish.