Uncovering the mechanisms of sexual differentiation: insights from Drosophila research.

Abstract

The differences between males and females represent the largest phenotypic dimorphism observed in most species. In humans, this variation contributes to disparities in the risk, incidence, and treatment responses for numerous diseases, with many of these significant differences remaining unexplained. While hormones derived from sex organs play critical roles in shaping and maintaining certain sex differences, recent research using the Drosophila model underscores the significance of cell-intrinsic mechanisms linked to the sex chromosomes.