性别决定和调控机理是昆虫遗传控制研究的核心内容，其机理在不同种类的昆虫中呈现高度的多样性。家蚕是鳞翅目代表性模式昆虫，其性别决定和调控机制目前还不清楚，有待进一步研究。研究表明，位于性别决定通路底层的doublesex基因在不同物种中具有高度的保守性。本项目拟从家蚕doublesex控制的雌雄二态性特征的角度出发，在前期研究的基础上，针对dsx基因雌雄特异性的剪接体敲除，通过RNA-Seq和酵母双杂在分子和蛋白水平筛选和鉴定其调控的相关基因，再通过转基因过表达、CRISPR/Cas9基因组编辑技术等系统的研究手段在个体水平深入阐明dsx调控家蚕雌雄二态性的分子机制，从而一方面深入理解dsx在性别决定和调控中的作用机制，另一方面对揭示生物性二态型发育与调控的分子基础有着重要的借鉴意义。

Sex determination and regulation are key issues in insect genetic control. Its mechanism shows high diversity in different insect species. The silkworm, Bombyx mori, is the lepidopteran model insect, which is not only an economically important insect, but also represents 80% pest species in Agriculture and Forestry. However, its sex determination and regulation is still in mystery in B. mori. Recent progress revealed that doublesex (dsx), which is the conserved downstream gene in the insect sex determination pathway, has important roles in insect sex determination and regulation. In the current study, we plan to exploit the molecular mechanism on how dsx regulate insect sexual dimorphism. Based on our previous study, the first step is screening series of related genes by yeast two-hybrid and RNA-seq analysis in sex-specific dsx mutants. The second step is establishing Gal4/UAS transgenic system which will ectopically overexpress these genes. At the same time, we will establish CRISPR/Cas9 system to knock out these genes in vivo. The last step is investigating gene expression and subsequent phenotypes in these transgenic/mutant animals. Our work will elucidate how miRNAs regulate dsx thus shed light on future studies on insect sex determination and regulation.