Sneh Harsh

The pioneer factor Zelda induces male-to-female somatic sex reversal in adult tissues

The paper shows that the pioneer factor Zelda induces female-specific traits in male Drosophila tissues by upregulating genes that promote feminization and override male identity.

Conversion of somatic sex identity in the testis induces female-specific cellular behaviors in the soma and early oocyte specification in the germline

This study shows that loss of chinmo in Drosophila testis causes somatic cells to adopt female-specific behaviors and influence germline sex identity, leading to early oocyte specification.