Systems biology asks new questions about sex differences.
Females and males differ in physiology and in the incidence and progression of diseases. The sex-biased proximate factors causing sex differences in phenotype include direct effects of gonadal hormones and of genes represented unequally in the genome because of their X- or Y-linkage. Novel systems approaches have begun to assess the magnitude and character of sex differences in organization of gene networks on a genome-wide scale. These studies identify functionally related modules of genes that are coexpressed differently in males and females, and sites in the genome that regulate gene networks in a sex-specific manner. Measurement of the aggregate behavior of genes uncovers novel sex differences that can be related more effectively to susceptibility to disease.
Department of Physiological Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. arnold@ucla.edu
Arthur P
AP
Arnold
Atila
A
van Nas
Aldons J
AJ
Lusis
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D049490:Systems Biology / Q000379:methods*