Genetic and Molecular Insights into the Development and Evolution of Sexual Dimorphism

Author(s)

Thomas M. Williams, University of DaytonFollow
Sean B. Carroll, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-2009

Publication Source

Nature Reviews Genetics

Abstract

Sexual dimorphism is common throughout the animal kingdom. However, a molecular understanding of how sex-specific traits develop and evolve has been elusive. Recently, substantial progress has been made in elucidating how diverse sex-determination systems are integrated into developmental gene networks. One common theme from these studies is that sex-limited traits and gene expression are produced by the combined action of transcriptional effectors of sex-determination pathways and other transcription factors on target gene cis-regulatory elements. Sex-specific traits evolve by the gain, loss or modification of linkages in the genetic networks regulated by sex-determination transcription factors.

Inclusive pages

797-804

ISBN/ISSN

1471-0056

Comments

Permission documentation is on file. Macmillan Publishers is a division of Springer Nature.

Copyright

Copyright © 2009, Macmillan Publishers

Publisher

Macmillan Publishers

Volume

10

Peer Reviewed

yes

eCommons Citation

Williams, Thomas M. and Carroll, Sean B., "Genetic and Molecular Insights into the Development and Evolution of Sexual Dimorphism" (2009). Biology Faculty Publications. 175.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/bio_fac_pub/175