Epigenetic sex determination in haplodiploid insects

Advisor: Qiaowei (Miya) Pan

Location: Max Planck Institute for Biology

Sex determination can arise through diverse mechanisms. In genetic systems, such as those in humans, sexual fate is determined by chromosomal or allelic differences between males and females. By contrast, epigenetic sex determination occurs when external or environmental cues modulate gene expression from a shared genome to direct sexual development. Although this mode of sex determination has been studied in a few vertebrates, where environmental inputs can override or replace genetic cues, its molecular basis remains largely unexplored.

Two males (right) and one female worker (left) of the crazy yellow ant. They inherit the same paternal and maternal genomes but diverge drastically in their developmental trajectories. (Photo © Hugo Darras, used with permission)’

Two males (right) and one female worker (left) of the crazy yellow ant. They inherit the same paternal and maternal genomes but diverge drastically in their developmental trajectories. (Photo © Hugo Darras, used with permission)’

We study haplodiploid insects, where females develop from fertilized, diploid eggs and males develop from unfertilized haploid eggs. Several haplodiploid species rely on non-genetic cues for sex determination, yet the molecular basis has only been studied in one species to date

To explore the diversity of non-genetic sex determination mechanisms, this project will combine comparative transcriptomics and epigenetic profiling with genetic engineering experiments to (i) identify and characterize the molecular basis of epigenetic sex determination in ant, wasp, and beetle models, and (ii) investigate the regulatory and evolutionary consequences of transitions from genetic to non-genetic sex determination.

Reference:

Yu C, Hodapp D, Moog S, Dupont S, Darrouzet E, Keller Valsecchi CI, Colgan TJ, Pan Q*, and Darras H*. (in press). Deep evolutionary conservation of a sex-determining locus without sequence homology. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). (* donate equal contributions)
Pan Q, Darras H, and Keller L. (2024). LncRNA gene ANTSR coordinates complementary sex determination in the Argentine ant. Science advances. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adp1532
Zou Y, Geuverink E, Beukeboom LW, Verhulst EC, van de Zande L. (2020). A chimeric gene paternally instructs female sex determination in the haplodiploid wasp Nasonia. Science. doi: 10.1126/science.abb8949

More information about the research of Qiaowei (Miya) Pan and a selection of recent publications can be found on her faculty page.

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Application deadline: 19 January 2026