Comparative WGBS of gonad and muscle and RNA-seq of gonad tissue in Poecilia reticulata and Poecilia wingei
This project investigates the role of DNA methylation in the regulation of sexually dimorphic gene expression in two closely related Poeciliid species, Poecilia reticulata and Poecilia wingei. Using a comparative epigenomic framework, we generated whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) data from gonad and muscle tissue in both sexes of each species, along with RNA-seq data from gonadal tissue.The primary objective of this study is to identify sex-biased differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and assess their conservation across species, with a focus on distinguishing functionally constrained epigenetic patterns. By integrating methylation and gene expression data, we evaluate the relationship between DNA methylation and sex-biased transcription, and examine the genomic distribution of these patterns.These data provide insight into the extent to which sex-biased epigenetic regulation is conserved, tissue-specific, and associated with genes involved in developmental and reproductive processes.