Dissecting natural variation in sexually dimorphic gene expression

本计画旨在借由剖析性二型基因表现的遗传变异，来了解性别差异的起源。两性异形构成了表型多样性的很大一部分，主要来自基因表达的性别差异，这种差异允许一个物种的雄性和雌性逃避由共享基因组引起的性冲突。该项目利用多群体数量遗传学和等位基因特异性表达分析，将性别特异性局部适应和性二态性调节变异的研究融合在一起。该项目将有助于了解顺式和反式调节因子如何以不同的方式影响男性和女性的自然变异，塑造他们的表型相似性和差异。

This project aims to understand the origins of sex differences by dissecting heritable variation in sexually dimorphic gene expression. Sexual dimorphism constitutes a large fraction of phenotypic diversity and arises mainly from sex differences in gene expression that permit males and females of a species to escape sexual conflict caused by a shared genome. The project uses multi-population quantitative genetics and allele-specific expression assays to merge the studies of sex-specific local adaptation and sexually dimorphic regulatory variation. The project will help to understand how cis- and trans- regulatory factors can affect natural variation differently in males and females, shaping their phenotypic similarities and differences.