title: Sex Differences: A Resultant of an Evolutionary Pressure?
abstract: Spurred by current research policy, we are witnessing a significant growth in the number of studies that observe and describe sexual diversities in human physiology and sex prevalence in a large number of pathologies. Yet we are far from the comprehension of the mechanisms underpinning these differences, which are the result of a long evolutionary history. This Essay is meant to underline female reproductive function as a driver for the positive selection of the specific physiological features that explain male and female differential susceptibility to diseases and metabolic disturbances, in particular. A clear understanding of the causes underlying sexual dimorphisms in the physio-pathology is crucial for precision medicine.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Della Torre
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: adriana.maggi@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maggi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction; D012727:Sex Characteristics