Hormone-mediated increases in sex-biased gene expression in Anolis sagrei

The mechanisms that facilitate sexual dimorphism are largely speculative. Transcriptome data were used to quantify sex-biased gene expression differences across two ontogenetic stages in Anolis sagrei. Sex-biased expression is particularly evident for genes involved with growth, metabolism, and cell proliferation. Combined with morphological data and experimental manipulation of testosterone, our results collectively suggest that sex-specific modifiers orchestrate sex-biased gene expression, which leads to the development of phenotypic sexual dimorphism.