How bearded dragons switch their sex

Extreme temperatures might mess with RNA from two genes

Australian bearded dragons

SEX SWAP Australian bearded dragons (one shown) have two chromosomes that determine their sex. But high incubation temperatures during development can override that information, turning genetically male dragons into functional females.

Arthur Georges/Univ. of Canberra

When things get hot, embryonic bearded dragon lizards turn female — and now scientists might know why.