Doublesex regulates male-specific differentiation during distinct developmental time windows in a parasitoid wasp.

Sexually dimorphic traits in insects are subject to sexual selection, but our knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms is still scarce. Here we investigate how the highly conserved gene, Doublesex (Dsx), is involved in shaping sexual dimorphism in the model parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). First, we present the revised Dsx gene structure including an alternative transcription start, and two additional male NvDsx transcript isoforms.

Functional and evolutionary insights from the genomes of three parasitoid Nasonia species.

We report here genome sequences and comparative analyses of three closely related parasitoid wasps: Nasonia vitripennis, N. giraulti, and N. longicornis.