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The evolution of sex-biased genes and sex-biased gene expression
Abstract
Differences between males and females in the optimal phenotype that is favoured by selection can be resolved by the evolution of differential gene expression in the two sexes. Microarray experiments have shown that such sex-biased gene expression is widespread across organisms and genomes. Sex-biased genes show unusually rapid sequence evolution, are often labile in their pattern of expression, and are non-randomly distributed in the genome. Here we discuss the characteristics and expression of sex-biased genes, and the selective forces that shape this previously unappreciated source of phenotypic diversity. Sex-biased gene expression has implications beyond just evolutionary biology, including for medical genetics.
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Metadata
- Authors
- Ellegren, H., & Parsch, J.
- Affiliations
- Uppsala University (SE)
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Ellegren, Hans
- Parsch, John
- Venue
- Nature Reviews Genetics
- Published
- 2007-08-07
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 689-698
- ISSN
- 1471-0056 (ISSN-L)
- 1471-0064
- OpenAlex
- W2057277929
- Cited by
- 925
- References
- 90
- Citations by year
- 2026: 27 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 58 · 2022: 58 · 2021: 62 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 53 · 2018: 60 · 2017: 53 · 2016: 55 · 2015: 41 · 2014: 68 · 2013: 46 · 2012: 40
- FWCI
- 4.57
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature Reviews Genetics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Vetenskapsrådet
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Keywords
- sex-biased genes, sex-biased gene expression, sex differences, gene expression patterns, sexual dimorphism, phenotypic diversity, selection, medical genetics
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Chromosome Mapping, Codon, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Male, Selection, Genetic, Sex Characteristics, Sex Chromosomes, Open Reading Frames, Gene Dosage, Evolution, Molecular, Genes, X-Linked, Genes, Y-Linked
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