Evolution of sex determining pathways in insects
Almost all species throughout the animal kingdom produce two sexually distinct phenotypes, females and males. Nevertheless, many different mechanisms seem to exist which select and fix the sexual fate of a developing individual. In insects, for instance, dominant male or female determiners, parental genotypes, haplo-diploidy, or even environmental cues are employed as primary signals to instruct male or female development.
A functional study of key determinants in flies and beetles
Our research group is interested in investigating the molecular basis of this diversity. We would like to understand in what respect the underlying genetic pathways differ in holometabolous insects. Using state-of-the-art technologies (transgenesis, RNAi, CRISPR/Cas9) we are currently examining the functions of candidate genes in insect models such as the common housefly Musca domestica and the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum.
Flyer
Contact information
If you are interested to participate in our research, please contact:
Daniel Bopp
Visit me in my office on Irchel campus:
office room Y11-J-66
or send me an email:
daniel.bopp@imls.uzh.ch
tel.:044 635 4869
