Resolving genomic sexual conflicts via sexually dimorphic gene expression (2015-2019)

The vast majority of differences between males and females, such as morphology, lifespan and susceptibility to disease are underlain by differences how gene expression is regulated in each sex. This grant will determine the estimate for the first time, the frequency with which a new mutation might alter the levels of gene expression in males and females. This is of fundamental importance to understanding why males and females can be so different. The grant will provide detailed assessment of the frequency of sex-biased mutations, examine the extent to which they reduce fitness, how much they reduce fitness by and determine whether they are cis- or trans- regulators.