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EMBARGO: September 22nd, 2016 11 AM Pacific / 2 PM Eastern Time Genome-wide study quantifies genetic “war between the sexes” Humans and flies are still undergoing natural selection based on sex Genes with moderately different expression levels in males and females are subject to ongoing, sex-related natural selection, reports a new study by Changde Cheng and Mark Kirkpatrick at the University of Texas, Austin, published September 22nd, 2016 in PLOS Genetics. Differences between males and females—whether humans or flies—come from differences in gene expression in the sexes, but exactly how evolution has shaped those differences is still a mystery. Scientists quantified the relationship between sex-biased expression, which are variations in gene expression between the sexes, and sex-specific selection, which is when natural selection favors different traits in different sexes, on a genome-wide scale in humans and flies. They observe a “Twin Peaks” pattern in both species where genes with intermediate differences in expression between the sexes are undergoing the greatest level of sex-specific selection, while genes that are either completely or not at all expressed differently undergo little selection. The pattern suggests that the “war between the sexes” is more than a metaphor: it contributes to measurable patterns in genes that affect mortality in humans. The study’s results suggest that ongoing sex-specific selection commonly occurs in the genomes of humans and flies. These findings help inform our understanding of how differences between the sexes evolve, and factors affecting the evolution of entire genomes. Kirkpatrick says "In the last few years, human genetics has been revolutionized by the discovery of evidence for widespread and recent adaptive evolution across the human genome. This study brings that picture into real time: we now see evidence for selection on many genes working within the lifetimes of living individuals. Further, the type of selection involves gene variants (alleles) that improve survival in one sex while decreasing it in the other. What is good genetically for females is bad for males, and vice versa.” ##### In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS Genetics: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1006170 Press-only preview: http://plos.io/2cCiKka Contact: Mark Kirkpatrick ([email protected]) Image Caption: The strength of sex-specific selection is strongest on human autosomal genes with intermediate sex-biased expression. The white curve is the best-fit 4th degree polynomial and the intensity of red indicates the likelihood that the regression passes through a given value. The average FST for the SNPs in a gene is small at Δ = 0 (unbiased expression), increases to a peak as sex-bias grows, then decreases as Δ approaches –1 and 1. The numbers of genes with a given bias are visualized in the density plot in the lower part of the figure; dark gray denotes intermediate sex-biased expression. Image Credit: Cheng et al, 2016 Citation: Cheng C, Kirkpatrick M (2016) Sex-Specific Selection and Sex-Biased Gene Expression in Humans and Flies. PLoS Genet 12(9): e1006170. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1006170 Funding: This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (http://www.snf.ch/en/funding/programmes/sinergia/Pages/default.aspx) (Grant CRSII3-147625 to MK). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Back to the Top About PLOS Genetics PLOS Genetics (http://www.plosgenetics.org) reflects the full breadth and interdisciplinary nature of genetics and genomics research by publishing outstanding original contributions in all areas of biology. We publish human studies, as well as research on model organisms— from mice and flies, to plants and bacteria. Our emphasis is on studies of broad interest that provide significant insight into a biological process or processes. Topics include (but are not limited to) gene discovery and function, population genetics, genome projects, comparative and functional genomics, medical genetics, disease biology, evolution, gene expression, complex traits, chromosome biology, and epigenetics. Media and Copyright Information For information about PLOS Genetics relevant to journalists, bloggers and press officers, including details of our press release process and embargo policy, visit http://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/s/press-and-media . PLOS Journals publish under a Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits free reuse of all materials published with the article, so long as the work is cited. About the Public Library of Science The Public Library of Science (PLOS) PLOS is a nonprofit publisher and advocacy organization founded to accelerate progress in science and medicine by leading a transformation in research communication. For more information, visit http://www.plos.org. Disclaimer This press release refers to upcoming articles in PLOS Genetics. The releases have been provided by the article authors and/or journal staff. Any opinions expressed in these are the personal views of the contributors, and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of PLOS. PLOS expressly disclaims any and all warranties and liability in connection with the information found in the release and article and your use of such information. 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