Currently, there is little data available regarding the role of gender-specific gene expression
on synonymous codon usage (translational selection) in most organisms, and particularly
plants. Using gender-specific EST libraries (with> 4000 ESTs) from Zea mays and Triticum
aestivum, we assessed whether gender-specific gene expression per se and gender-
specific gene expression level are associated with selection on codon usage. We found
clear evidence of a greater bias in codon usage for genes expressed in female than in male …