Sex differences in the genetic architecture of aggressiveness in a sexually dimorphic spider

AbstractHands and digits tend to be sexually dimorphic and may reflect prenatal androgen exposure. In the past years, the literature introduced several hand and digit measures, but there is a lack of studies in prepubertal cohorts. The available literature reports more heterogeneous findings in prepubertal compared to postpubertal cohorts. The comparability of the available studies is further limited by the study design and different measurement techniques. The present study compared the reliability and sex differences of available hand and digit measures, namely digit lengths of 2D, 3D, 4D, 5D, digit ratios 2D:4D, 2D:5D, 3D:4D, 3D:5D, 4D:5D, relative digit lengths rel2, rel3, rel4, rel5, directional asymmetry of right and left 2D:4D (Dr-l), hand width, length, and index of 399 male and 364 female 6-month-old German infants within one study using only indirect and computer-assisted measurements. The inter-examiner reliability was excellent while the test-retest reliability of hand scans was only moderate to high. Boys exhibited longer digits as well as wider and longer hands than girls, but smaller digit ratios, with ratios comprising the fifth digit revealing the largest effect sizes. Other hand and digit ratios revealed sex differences to some extent. The findings promote the assumption of sexual dimorphic hand and digit measures. However, by comparing the results of the available literature, there remains an uncertainty regarding the underlying hypothesis. Specifically in prepubertal cohorts, i.e. before the influence of fluctuating hormones, significant effects should be expected. It seems like other factors than the influence of prenatal androgens contribute to the sexual dimorphism in hand and digit lengths.

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Neuronal activation of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area in female and male rats during copulation and its sex differences

Neuroscience Letters ◽

10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135915 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 755 ◽

pp. 135915

Author(s):

Masahiro Morishita ◽

Arisa Kamada ◽

Shinji Tsukahara

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Preoptic Area ◽

Male Rats ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Neuronal Activation ◽

Sexually Dimorphic Nucleus

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Sex differences in melanotic encapsulation responses (immunocompetence) in the damselfly Lestes forcipatus Rambur

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z02-159 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 80 (9) ◽

pp. 1578-1583 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Christopher P Yourth ◽

Mark R Forbes ◽

Robert L Baker

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Life Histories ◽

Mass Gain ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Foreign Objects ◽

Males And Females ◽

And Gender ◽

Parasitic Mites ◽

Melanotic Encapsulation

A few studies have shown that male and female invertebrates differ in immunity and that these differences appear related to differences in sexual dimorphism and gender differences in life histories. Melanotic encapsulation of foreign objects in insects is one form of immunity. The damselfly Lestes forcipatus Rambur is moderately sexually dimorphic, and much is known about patterns of mass gain in congeners relating to differences in life history between males and females. In this study, females were more immunoresponsive than males under controlled temperatures, following emergence, and at a time when parasitic mites were challenging these hosts. However, males and females that overlapped in mass at emergence did not differ in their immune responses. Males in better condition at emergence were more immunoresponsive than lighter males, but this relation was not found in females. Sex differences in immune expression may have implications for how females versus males are able to deal with challenges from parasites, under varying environmental conditions.

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Sex differences in the genetic architecture of obsessive-compulsive disorder

American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B Neuropsychiatric Genetics ◽

10.1002/ajmg.b.32687 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 180 (6) ◽

pp. 351-364 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Ekaterina A. Khramtsova ◽

Raphael Heldman ◽

Eske M. Derks ◽

Dongmei Yu ◽

Lea K. Davis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽

Genetic Architecture ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Compulsive Disorder

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INTRALOCUS SEXUAL CONFLICT AND THE GENETIC ARCHITECTURE OF SEXUALLY DIMORPHIC TRAITS IN PROCHYLIZA XANTHOSTOMA (DIPTERA: PIOPHILIDAE)

Evolution ◽

10.1111/j.0014-3820.2005.tb01066.x ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 59 (9) ◽

pp. 1965-1975 ◽

Cited By ~ 63

Author(s):

Russell Bonduriansky ◽

Locke Rowe

Keyword(s):

Sexual Conflict ◽

Genetic Architecture ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Intralocus Sexual Conflict

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Evolution, Societal Sexism, and Universal Average Sex Differences in Cognition and Behavior

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190299323.013.30 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lee Ellis

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Past Century ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Social Scientists ◽

Industrial Countries ◽

Expression Of Genes ◽

And Behavior ◽

Industrial Societies ◽

Shed Light

During the past century, social scientists have documented many cross-cultural sex differences in personality and behavior, quite a few of which now appear to be found in all human societies. However, contrary to most scientists’ expectations, these so-called universal sex differences have been shown to be more pronounced in Western industrial societies than in most non-Western developing societies. This chapter briefly reviews the evidence bearing on these findings and offers a biologically based theory that could help shed light on why cross-cultural sex differences exist. The following hypothesis is offered: The expression of many genes influencing sexually dimorphic traits is more likely among descendants of couples who are least closely related to one another. If so, societies in which out-marriage is normative (i.e., Western industrial countries) will exhibit a stronger expression of genes for sexually dimorphic traits compared to societies in which consanguineal marriages are common.

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A Sexually Dimorphic Motor Nucleus : Steroid Sensitive Afferents, Sex Differences and Hormonal Regulation

The Development of Sex Differences and Similarities in Behavior ◽

10.1007/978-94-011-1709-8_2 ◽

1993 ◽

pp. 19-31

Author(s):

L. G. Clemens ◽

C. K. Wagner ◽

A. E. Ackerman

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Hormonal Regulation ◽

Motor Nucleus ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Steroid Sensitive

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Understanding sex differences in psychosis through the exploration of hormonal contributions

Psychotic Disorders ◽

10.1093/med/9780190653279.003.0012 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 93-102

Author(s):

Leah H. Rubin

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Steroid Hormones ◽

Genetic Factors ◽

Psychotic Disorders ◽

Clinical Presentation ◽

Sex Steroid ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Social Emotional ◽

Brain Disorder

Sex appears to modulate the risk, clinical presentation, and course of schizophrenia as well as other psychotic disorders. Sex differences in neuroendocrine and/or genetic factors may contribute to these sex differences as well as in social/emotional and cognitive functioning. The goal of this chapter is to better understand these sex differences through the exploration of hormonal contributions to this brain disorder. We specifically focus on sex steroid hormones (e.g., estrogen) as well as sexually dimorphic neurohormones—oxytocin and vasopressin.

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Sex Differences in Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction in Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17197270 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (19) ◽

pp. 7270

Author(s):

Daniel Enrique Rodriguez Bauza ◽

Patricia Silveyra

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Female Athletes ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Atopic Status ◽

Management Plans ◽

Disease Experience ◽

Males And Females ◽

Male Sex ◽

Exercise Induced

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a common complication of athletes and individuals who exercise regularly. It is estimated that about 90% of patients with underlying asthma (a sexually dimorphic disease) experience EIB; however, sex differences in EIB have not been studied extensively. With the goal of better understanding the prevalence of EIB in males and females, and because atopy has been reported to occur at higher rates in athletes, in this study, we investigated sex differences in EIB and atopy in athletes. A systematic literature review identified 60 studies evaluating EIB and/or atopy in post-pubertal adult athletes (n = 7501). Collectively, these studies reported: (1) a 23% prevalence of EIB in athletes; (2) a higher prevalence of atopy in male vs. female athletes; (3) a higher prevalence of atopy in athletes with EIB; (4) a significantly higher rate of atopic EIB in male vs. female athletes. Our analysis indicates that the physiological changes that occur during exercise may differentially affect male and female athletes, and suggest an interaction between male sex, exercise, and atopic status in the course of EIB. Understanding these sex differences is important to provide personalized management plans to athletes with underlying asthma and/or atopy.

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