Investigating a Male-specifc Genetic Modifier of Neurogenesis

Neurodevelopmental disorders exhibit significant sex differences, with males being more susceptible to autism spectrum disorder and ADHD, while females are more prone to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. While sex hormones contribute to brain sex differences, emerging evidence suggests that the Y-chromosome gene, SRY, plays a critical role in male brain development and function. Recent findings indicate that SRY regulates male-specific neurogenesis in animal and human cell lines, and its dysfunction may contribute to male-biased neurodevelopmental disorders. In view of this, this project will aim to investigate the role of the SRY gene in male-specific neurogenesis and its potential contribution to male-biased neurodevelopmental disorders. Specifically, the project will i) assess the relationship between SRY levels and neurogenesis in pre-clinical models of neurodevelopmental disorders and (ii) identify the molecular pathways involved in SRY-mediated neuronal proliferation using human secondary and inducible pluripotent stem cell lines.